Border dispute: Meghalaya government extends internet shutdown in 7 districts for another 48 hrs

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• Nov 26, 2022 | Dhupali Das

The internet will be suspended in the aforementioned districts starting at 10:30 a.m. on November 26...

Digital Desk: The Meghalaya government has extended the internet suspension for another 48 hours across the state's seven districts.

According to state police, social media sites like Whatsapp, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, etc have the potential to severely disrupt law and order.

Following an untoward incident on the Assam-Meghalaya border that killed six people, the Meghalaya government decided to maintain the internet shutdown in the state's seven districts, namely West Jaintia Hills, East Jaintia Hills, East Khasi Hills, Ri - Bhoi, Eastern West Khasi Hills, West Khasi Hills, and South West Khasi Hills.

The internet will be suspended in the aforementioned districts starting at 10:30 a.m. on November 26.

As previously reported, tensions rose in Meghalaya's capital Shillong on Thursday evening after miscreants set fire to a traffic booth and attacked three police cars, including a city bus.

The incident occurred on November 22 during a candlelight vigil organized by various parties to condemn the violence on the Assam-Meghalaya border. Six people, including five from Meghalaya and personnel of the Assam Forest Guard, were killed in the firing incident at the Mukroh area of the West Jaintia Hills district of Meghalaya.

Reportedly, the protesters threw stones and petrol bombs at police officers who were on the site to ease tensions.

Security officers were forced to use tear gas shells to disperse the demonstrators and restore order, reports said.

S. Nongtnger, SP of East Khasi Hills, Shillong, told ANI over the phone that the incident damaged three police vehicles, including a city bus and a gypsy.

"The miscreants set fire to a traffic booth in the city and threw petrol bombs at police officers," the SP said.

Earlier on Tuesday, six people were killed and several more were injured in an alleged clash between locals and an Assam contingent of police and forest guards.

The reported clash happened near the Assam district of West Karbi Anglong and Mukroh village in Meghalaya's West Jaintia Hills. An Assamese forest guard was one of those who died.