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Shillong Violence in 2018
Violence against Dalit Sikhs in Shillong needs to be seen as an intensification of interethnic tensions between the tribal and non-tribal population. It underscores the question of the protection of minorities within minorities in the context of the overall functioning of the Sixth Schedule areas.
The author acknowledges the comments and suggestions of anonymous referees.
The capital city of Meghalaya, Shillong is also the headquarters of East Khasi Hills district, which is popularly known as the Scotland of the East, because of its landscape, waterfalls and natural beauty. Picturesque Shillong turned intemperate as violence erupted at Punjabi Line, which is located near Bara Bazaar in the heart of the city on 31 May 2018. It occurred after an altercation between a driver of the Khasi community employed with the Shillong Public Transport Service and some Punjabi women in Theme lew Mawlong, a Dalit Sikh settlement.1 Despite the competing claims, the feuding parties reached a formal compromise at the local Cantonment Board police station on the same day. But, violence started suddenly when a tribal mob attacked in a Sikh settlement. Sikhs gathered around in the community to protect themselves from the mob violence. Curfew was promulgated and the army was called in to protect the Sikhs.2
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