SHILLONG : Panic briefly gripped Shillong’s busy commercial hub of Khyndailad on Wednesday morning after an unattended bag and trolley were discovered near OB Mall, prompting a major security response.
The suspicious luggage was spotted at around 11:30 am, leading police to immediately cordon off the area as a precautionary measure. Traffic movement from IGP to Khyndailad was temporarily halted, resulting in heavy congestion across the city centre.
A bomb disposal squad was also pressed into service to examine the unattended luggage, while police ensured the safety of shoppers, commuters and nearby businesses.
The situation, however, turned out to be a false alarm. At around 12:30 pm, the owner of the bag arrived and informed the police that he had left the luggage in the parking area while visiting the MUDA Complex.
After verifying the claim and thoroughly inspecting the bag, police confirmed that no explosives or suspicious materials were present. The security cordon was subsequently lifted, and normal traffic resumed.
Following the incident, police appealed to the public not to leave personal belongings unattended in public places, as such incidents can trigger unnecessary panic and require significant deployment of security personnel.