Tura, March 14: After three days of violence and five days of curfew, Tura is slowly limping back to normalcy, with its first weekly market taking place today. However, the response was lukewarm as consumers had a trying time obtaining hard currency to purchase commodities, with most ATM kiosks found empty of cash.
The last weekly market day in Tura was on March 7, two days before violence broke out. Following mob violence in Chibinang, Williamnagar and Tura, curfew was imposed and internet services were cut to curb the spread of fake news and prevent incitement to violence.
While the internet ban has helped contain the flow of unverified stories and halt rumour-mongering, it has also turned into a handicap for the public, particularly during the relaxation of curfew hours when people step out to purchase essential commodities.
With just five ATMs of the SBI operational today, long queues were seen outside the kiosks. The only SBI ATMs functioning were at New Tura (which quickly ran out of cash), two ATMs outside the main SBI office near DC Park, and the ATM at Tura Bazaar located opposite Thakurbari and Nakham Bazar. All private bank ATMs in town — including Axis Bank, HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank — had their shutters down.
The internet ban also affected the public as a majority of people rely on online transactions to procure necessary items.
“Many customers turned away because of their inability to pay for the goods. We tried to help as many as we could by giving credit, but it was impossible to do so for everyone,” said a trader from Tura town.
A few stores provided Wi-Fi service to enable customers to purchase their requirements. In the face of these challenges, Tura residents also improvised, with some heading to petrol stations to exchange online transfers for hard cash to use in the markets.
With the situation gradually returning to normal and the government extending curfew relaxation hours with each passing day, there is optimism that mobile internet services could soon be restored for the public.
