As tensions continue to climb, Assam Police are not allowing vehicles from the state to enter Shillong...
Digital Desk: The Meghalaya administration prolonged the suspension of mobile Internet and data services in seven districts for another 48 hours on Thursday, following a few isolated incidences of burning and attack on Assam vehicles in Shillong and elsewhere.
The state's Home Secretary CVD Diengdoh stated in a notification that the government received allegations of burning and damage to Assam-registered vehicles in various sections of Shillong and other pockets of Jaintia Hills districts of Meghalaya.
He stated that due to concerns that social media could be used for information transmission, potentially leading to a serious breakdown in law and order, the government decided to extend the suspension of mobile Internet and data services by 48 hours in the districts of West Jaintia Hills, East Jaintia Hills, East Khasi Hills, Ri-Bhoi, Eastern West Khasi Hills, West Khasi Hills, and South West Khasi Hills.
On Tuesday morning, a shooting incident on the border of Assam's West Karbi Anglong district and Meghalaya's West Jaintia Hills district killed five Meghalaya villagers and an Assam forest guard.
It happened when residents in Meghalaya challenged Assam Police and forest guards after the officers had stopped a timber-laden vehicle and arrested three of its occupants, including the driver.
Following the border firing, isolated incidents of violence were recorded. In the West Karbi Anglong district, a forest police office was set on fire. An Assam-registered SUV was also set on fire in Shillong, while stones were thrown at other Assam vehicles in Meghalaya.
Following the incident, several tourists and automobiles were left stranded in Meghalaya.
As tensions remain high, Assam Police are not allowing vehicles from the state to enter Shillong.
The Assam government suspended two police officials and the superintendent of West Karbi Anglong district. The opposition parties saw the government's moves as a "surrender" in front of Meghalaya.
"Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has surrendered to Meghalaya in order to continue as convenor of NEDA (North East Democratic Alliance, a conglomeration of non-Congress political parties in the Northeast)," Assam Congress president Bhupen Kumar Borah claimed.
The Asom Jatiya Parishad chief, Lurinjyoti Gogoi, has also lambasted the Sarma administration on the subject.
"How could the state government take action against the officials when the issue is being investigated by the courts?" "With such acts, the Chief Minister succumbed to Meghalaya," Gogoi stated.
Assam and Meghalaya have a long-standing disagreement in 12 regions along their 884.9-kilometer-long interstate boundary, including the location of the violence.
In March of this year, the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding to resolve the issue in six areas.
Meghalaya was formed from Assam in 1972 and has subsequently contested the 1971 Assam Reorganisation Act, which established the border between the two states.
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