Riots blossomed and tear gas wafted through the air on the second day of the Cherry Blossom Festival as frustrated members of the public vented their fury at not being able to get into the JN Sports Complex in Polo for the evening’s entertainment.
After nearly two years of a dearth of such entertainment due to the Covid-19 pandemic, crowds have descended in large numbers on Polo, one of the two venues for the government-supported festival, especially today as it is the start of the weekend.
Huge traffic jams snaked their way through the state capital, right from the afternoon, adding to the sense of frustration. The organisers had made it mandatory for visitors to be able to prove that they have been doubly vaccinated against Covid-19, which effectively meant that those under the age of 18 were barred. The public were also frisked on entry to the sports complex.
However, trouble began after the authorities proceeded to deny entry to members of the public from 7pm, according to reports from the ground. A magistrate tried to talk it out with the angry would-be festival goers but nothing came out of the discussions and the tensions boiled over.
The angry crowd went on a rampage, tearing down festival signage and trying to break through the gates. Bottles were also hurled at police, who resorted to tear gas. Police were seen detaining a few individuals but many more took shelter in the darkness surrounding the entrance, from where shouts of abuse and stray bottles rained in on the authorities.
“The organisers should have anticipated the crowd. This event was held after a gap of two years and everyone wanted to enjoy the evening. Some of us had come with our families, including children,” one such visitor said, adding that there was no warning before police fired the tear gas.
Family members of those festival goers inside the venue were also present, praying that their loved ones would not get caught up in the violence. Altogether, it was an embarrassing and deeply shaming spectacle during an event that was meant to signal Meghalaya’s reopening to tourism.
Earlier, long lines of people were also seen thronging the entrance to Ward’s Lake, where the literary side to the festival was taking place.
“We were charged Rs 100 (to enter) when there was actually nothing inside,” a visitor said. “All we did was click photographs, which we could have done on any ordinary day for less money,” she added, referring to the normal cost of entry, which is Rs 20.
The troubled Cherry Blossom Festival is scheduled to conclude tomorrow.
