Cherry Blossom Festival is held at JN Sports Complex, Polo
The second day of the Cherry Blossom Festival was turned into a battleground between visitors and police as visitors, angry over not being let inside the festival arena, clashed with the police forcing them to fire tear gas shells to disperse the unruly mob.
A group of people reportedly got angry after they were not allowed entry into the JN Sports Complex in Polo for the evening’s entertainment as part of the festivity.
Trouble, according to eyewitnesses, began after the authorities denied entry to the public after 7 pm.
A magistrate also tried to talk it out with the frustrated mob who were arguing for the entry.
Following this, the angry crowd went on a rampage, tearing down festival signage and even tried to break through the gates.
Cherry blow-som festival!
— D'roy (@DevRoye) November 26, 2021
Or rather #didiblowsom festival?
Welcome to Momo land… #Shillong pic.twitter.com/Hdk4oLAL14
Bottles were also hurled at police, who resorted to tear gas firing.
Police detained a few individuals but many more took shelter in the darkness surrounding the entrance, from where stray bottles rained in on the authorities.
Chaos breaks out at the entrance of the Cherry Blossom Festival in Polo on Friday evening with a heavy rush being reported at the entrance.
— The Shillong Times (@ShillongTimesIn) November 26, 2021
According to sources, tear gas was fired to neutralize the crowd.#TweetWithTST pic.twitter.com/OCdGUKfyQz
The festival coincides with the blooming of pink cherry blossom flowers that dot the Meghalaya capital and across the state at this time of the year.
The popular event was cancelled due to the COVID pandemic last year.
Also Read:
Congress Will Return To Power In 2023 Assembly Polls: Ampareen