Residents across Guwahati have called for tighter security at hotels and other public establishments, improved surveillance, better street lighting and more police patrolling after a shootout in the city’s Bora Service area on Monday night.
The demands include stronger entry checks at hotels, functional CCTV cameras at entrances and other vulnerable points, visitor verification and the use of metal detectors where necessary. Residents said these measures were needed to prevent suspicious activity and improve public safety in places used by large numbers of people.
“Hotels and other public establishments should strengthen entry checks, install metal detectors where necessary and maintain that CCTV cameras at entrances and other vulnerable points remain functional,” said Rajkumar Gogoi, a Dispur resident. He also called for visitors to be properly verified and security personnel to remain alert to suspicious activity.
The concerns extend beyond the shootout. Residents said incidents such as chain-snatching, robbery and theft continue to affect people travelling alone or returning home late at night. Their demands place street-level safety alongside security at commercial and public establishments, highlighting concerns about how residents move through the city after dark.
Ananya Choudhury, a Rupnagar resident, said poorly lit lanes and isolated stretches left pedestrians vulnerable, particularly at night. She called for sufficient street lights in narrow lanes and residential neighbourhoods, along with timely maintenance of existing infrastructure.
“Better visibility could help deter offenders and make it easier to identify suspicious movements,” Choudhury said.
Residents also sought increased police patrolling in crime-prone areas, particularly during peak commuting hours and at night. The calls point to a combination of preventive infrastructure and visible policing, rather than reliance on security arrangements inside individual establishments alone.
Aditya Pran Changkakoti, a Silpukhuri resident, said the incident had left people shocked because it occurred in the heart of the city. He called for regular monitoring of crime-prone areas and faster police response. He also urged authorities to raise public awareness about emergency call boxes through campaigns, demonstrations and community meetings, saying the facilities remained largely unused because many people did not know how to use them.
Another demand concerns the process for issuing arms licences. Biplab Sinha, who lives near Satgaon, called for stricter verification before licences are granted, including background checks, security assessments and verification of applicants.
The residents’ concerns therefore cover three parts of the city’s safety system: security at hotels and public establishments, the condition and coverage of street infrastructure, and the visibility and responsiveness of policing. The report did not include an official response from the police or other authorities to these demands.
Residents have called for authorities to strengthen monitoring in crime-prone areas, improve street lighting and patrolling, ensure security equipment remains functional, and conduct awareness programmes on emergency call boxes.
