1,000 central paramilitary personnel sent to Shillong

NEW DELHI: About 1,000 central paramilitary personnel have been sent to Meghalaya to tackle the situation in Shillong which has been on edge following clashes between residents of the city's Punjabi Line area and Khasi drivers of state-run buses.

Top officials of the Union home ministry were also in touch with the state government officials and getting regular information about the prevailing situation in the Meghalaya capital.

Adequate forces have been sent to Shillong to control the situation as per the request of the state government, a ministry official said.

Another official said around 10 companies of paramilitary forces have been sent to Meghalaya. A company of paramilitary force comprises of 100 personnel.

The Meghalaya capital was under curfew on Saturday following clashes between police and locals all through Friday.

Late on Friday night, the Army carried out a flag march in various localities.

Meanwhile the National Commission for Minorities will send a member to the Meghalaya capital Shillong to investigate the clashes between residents of the city's Punjabi Line area and Khasi drivers of state-run buses, the panel's chief said today

The panel has decided to send its member Manjit Singh Rai from Punjab to Shillong to assess the situation, said NCM chairperson Syed Ghayorul Hasan Rizvi.

"We are sending our member Manjit Singh Rai from Punjab for a probe and he will file a report based on which the future course of action will be decided. He will go tomorrow and return on Wednesday. He will meet all those affected," Hasan told PTI.

This hill town has been in grip of violence since Thursday after a fight between residents of Shillong's Punjabi Line area and Khasi drivers of state-run buses.

Normal life continued to remain affected for the fourth day in a row today with curfew imposed in parts of the city.