Meghalaya lifts the Internet ban and says more outposts will be set up along its border with Assam

Digital Desk: The ministry of Meghalaya has announced that it will establish more border outposts in all critical locations of the state bordering Assam. The government has also decided to lift the state's week-long ban on internet connectivity. 

The decision was made during an all-party meeting presided over by Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma. 

After four days of comparative peace in Meghalaya, the peace was shattered late Monday night by a petrol bomb attack in Mawbah, west of Shillong. CCTV footage showed two young males entering the area and hurling a bomb at the home of Paritosh Das in Shillong's Bengali Para. 

Mr. Sangma informed reporters that the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government was taking all necessary precautions to safeguard the safety and security of citizens in the state's border areas. He also stated that the government had launched a judicial investigation led by Justice T Vaiphei.

Violence erupted on the Assam-Meghalaya border in the early hours of Tuesday after an Assam forest guard apprehended a truck purportedly loaded with illegally fallen timber.

During the fights, six individuals were killed, including a forest guard. Assam Police and forest guards "entered the state and resorted to unjustified fire," according to Meghalaya. 

According to Assam officials, the truck was intercepted by a Forest Department team in the state's West Karbi Anglong district, and a mob from Meghalaya attacked the forest guards and policemen from Assam, who opened fire to bring the situation under control.

Mr. Sangma also stated that limitations on mobile internet and data services, which were imposed following last week's turmoil in which five Meghalaya residents were killed, will be eased. "Vehicle movement has been permitted under police patrol," the Chief Minister added. Vehicles with Assam licence plates were previously barred from entering Meghalaya for fear of retaliation.

Meanwhile, the opposition Trinamool Congress (TMC) has stated that the state administration has lost moral authority and that either a new government or the President's Rule should be imposed on Meghalaya. 

TMC leader and Opposition Chief Whip in the Meghalaya Assembly, George B. Lyngdoh, told reporters after the all-party meeting: "The government has failed to act on the Mukroh tragedy, despite being alerted by the people about Assam's highhandedness."

The TMC has claimed that Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma was instrumental in establishing the present Meghalaya administration in 2018. TMC alleged that the current Meghalaya administration has always taken a soft tone in dealing with Assam, maybe out of concern that the Assam CM will pull down the government. 

Mr. Lyngdoh continued: "Instead of securing prompt justice for the victims, the MDA government sought assistance from Delhi and Guwahati." "We condemn their callousness."