Assam-Meghalaya holds joint meeting to ease post violence situation

Guwahati, Aug 22 (IANS) The senior Ministers from Assam and Meghalaya held a high-level meeting in Guwahati on Saturday to discuss the tense situation between the neighbouring states following violence in Shillong and protests at Jorabat that disrupted inter-state movement.

Assam Border Protection and Development Minister Atul Bora and Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar led the meeting, which focused on restoring normalcy, ensuring the safety of people and vehicles and preventing further escalation along the Assam-Meghalaya border.

The meeting comes days after vehicles carrying tourists from Assam were allegedly attacked during a black-flag protest organised by the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) in Shillong on August 19.

Several vehicles were reportedly vandalised, with their windshields and windows damaged, while some tourists sustained injuries.

Describing the Shillong incident as “unwarranted and unfortunate”, Bora said that Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had promptly taken up the matter with Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma.

He added that Chief Minister Sangma had asked Meghalaya Deputy CM Dhar to engage with the Assam government and deliberate on measures to restore peace and facilitate the smooth movement of people and vehicles between the two states.

“I would like to appeal to people of both states to maintain peace and harmony because our relationship is very old,” Bora said.

The Shillong violence subsequently triggered protests by motor vehicle workers’ unions in Assam.

Jorabat, a key gateway between the two states, witnessed demonstrations, with protesters preventing some Meghalaya-registered commercial vehicles from entering Assam and asking them to return.

The protests continued for a third day on Friday, with demonstrators demanding compensation for vehicles allegedly damaged during the Shillong violence and seeking accountability from the authorities concerned.

Security was strengthened at Jorabat with the deployment of police and reserve personnel to prevent confrontations and protect vehicles travelling between the two states.

The tensions have also raised concerns over the potential impact on tourism and commercial transport between Assam and Meghalaya.

Three senior KSU leaders — President Raymond Kharjana, Vice President Pynkmenlang Sanmiet and General Secretary Reuben Najiar — were arrested in connection with the violence.

Meanwhile, Assam-based organisations have demanded stronger action.

The Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad called for an economic blockade and issued a warning over the safety of Assamese people in Meghalaya.

The latest meeting is expected to pave the way for coordinated steps to restore uninterrupted movement and prevent the dispute from widening.

Bora appealed to people on both sides to maintain restraint and ensure that the longstanding relationship between Assam and Meghalaya is not affected by isolated incidents.

–IANS

tdr/khz