Shillong, Aug 22: Citizens and civil society lit candles for peace at State Central Library on Saturday evening after the August 19 violence, which was followed by heightened tensions between Meghalaya and Assam.
Held under the theme ‘Citizens & Civil Society for Peace, Healing and Harmony’ with the message “Light a Candle. Stand for Peace,” the vigil called for restraint, dialogue and an end to escalation.
The gathering underscored the role of citizens and civil society in promoting peace, healing and harmony at a time of heightened tensions in the region.
The Shillong All Faith Forum also appealed for calm and communal harmony.
After an urgent meeting, SAFF president Bishop Purely Lyngdoh said members were deeply concerned and saddened as the situation had drawn attention beyond the state. “We feel very bad… We also feel shy. Now the whole world has come to know what is happening,” he said.
The forum decided to issue a peace appeal, urging people to follow law and procedure to address grievances. Lyngdoh made a special appeal to youth to stay calm, noting disruptions hit daily wage earners hard. “There are so many people who rely on their daily bread… Problems like this put them in great difficulty,” he said.
Central Puja Committee president Naba Bhattacharjee said SAFF will stay in touch and may issue a formal appeal by Sunday, hoping “good sense will prevail” on both sides.
“We are as a community, we are as a family, and we need to stand tall and recover from this situation,” Bhattacharjee said.
The Shillong Bengalee Students’ Association condemned the violence, attacks on civilians, destruction of property and vandalism of statues of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and Swami Vivekananda, flagging xenophobia and intimidation.
It urged accountability for perpetrators but warned against communal retaliation and asked youth not to fall for rumours, provocative content or political opportunism.
