Shillong Unites in Grief: Vigil and Shutdown to honour Pahalgam victims, citizens urged to join protest

Shillong, April 25: In the wake of the recent terror attack in Pahalgam in Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 26 people, mostly tourists, residents of Shillong are coming together in solidarity and protest. The Shillong Citizens Forum has called the peace loving citizens of greater Shillong for an urgent meeting to be held on Saturday at 6 p.m. at the Shillong Hindu Dharma Sabha (Jagannath Mandir) Auditorium, Thana Road.

The meeting will focus on the April 22 attack, widely condemned as a heinous act of terrorism, and will decide on a collective response to express grief, solidarity, and public outrage. Among the measures proposed are a candlelight vigil, a symbolic shutdown of business activity, and the submission of a memorandum to the central government.

The candlelight vigil is scheduled for April 27, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., in front of the old Assembly building at Khyndailad (Police Bazar Point), Shillong. Permission for the event has been granted by the East Khasi Hills district administration.

Organisers have also urged all shopkeepers and business establishments across Greater Shillong to observe a complete shutdown on April 28, as a mark of collective mourning and protest.

A memorandum will be submitted to the Prime Minister and Home Minister through the Governor and Chief Minister of Meghalaya. The memorandum will call on the central government to take firm and decisive action against those responsible for the attack.

“All peace-loving citizens of Greater Shillong, irrespective of caste, community, or religion, are invited to participate and share their views during the meeting,” the forum said in a public statement.

Meanwhile, Shillong’s business community has also strongly condemned the incident, describing it as a “brutal and cowardly act of violence against innocent tourists.” Expressing solidarity with the families of the victims, they have voiced full support for the April 28 shutdown.

“This attack on our fellow citizens, who were simply enjoying the beauty of our nation, cannot be tolerated. We demand the strictest possible action against those responsible,” they said adding: “We stand united against terrorism.”

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