Assam-Meghalaya border dispute: Clash leads to heavy security and prohibitory orders
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Guwahati: After the violent clash in the Assam-Meghalaya border led to the death of six people, prohibitory orders have remained in place in the disputed area and heavy security was deployed. Travel restrictions between two states issued by Assam Police have continued for the sixth consecutive day.
A police official told PTI that the situation is still not completely peaceful in Meghalaya. "There could be attacks on people or vehicles from Assam. Hence, we are asking people not to travel to that state. If at all someone has to travel, we have asked them to go by Meghalaya-registered vehicles."
Two main entry points from Assam to Meghalaya - Jorabat in Guwahati and Cachar district - are guarded with police barricades. There are no restrictions on commercial vehicles carrying all kinds of goods.
The incident took place on Tuesday. Restrictions under Section 144 of the CrPC continued at the clash site and surrounding areas. On Tuesday, Assamese forest guards stopped a truck allegedly carrying illegally felled timber. In the following clash, five people from Meghalaya and an Assamese official died. The violence broke out at Mukroh village near the disputed border between the two states in West Karbi Anglong district.
Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma moved the National Human Rights Commission, seeking action for the alleged violation of human rights by Assam Police. Assam has notified a separate judicial inquiry and appointed retired Gauhati HC judge Rumi Phukan to head the probe. Meghalaya has also set up a special investigation team to study the circumstances of the clash.
On Saturday, several social organisations in Meghalaya protested against the border violence by burning effigies of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma among others. Hynniewtrep Indigenous Territorial Organisation observed Red Flag Day. The Khasi Students' Union, Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People, Hynniewtrep National Youth Front, Ri Bhoi Youth Federation, and Jaintia Students' Union asked government offices to shut down as a form of protest on Friday.
Inspector Alok Kumar, who is training at the National Academy of Customs, Indirect Taxes, and Narcotics in Shillong was caught amid a protest and injured. He was hospitalised in critical condition.
The CBI will be investigating the November 22 incident.
