Shillong, Nov 5: An unspecified number of people were injured after police used tear gas and lathi charge to disperse members of the Meghalaya Truck Owners and Drivers Association (MCTODA) who were blocking trucks on National Highway 6 at Mawryngkneng last night.
Apart from the injured, four persons were also arrested by police, including the president of MCTODA, Mokslander Marngar.
“Several persons have been injured after the protests turned violent and disrupted movement of vehicles on the highway and subsequent intervention of the security forces to bring order. Four have been arrested,” a senior police official said.
Due to the protest and subsequent disruption of law and order, the East Khasi Hills district administration is likely to promulgate an order under Section 163 of the BNSS, which prevents the assembly of five or more people in the area, officials added.
“The situation presently in the area is under control and the security personnel are providing escort to the stranded trucks and other vehicles for their uninterrupted movement on the highway,” an official said.
The trucks were being blocked by MCTODA, which has been on an indefinite strike against the cement plants located in Jaintia Hills since October 27.
The association claims that these cement plants are not paying the government notified rate to the truckers during transportation.
Today, Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar, who is in charge of the Transport Department, clarified the issue of prescribed rates.
He explained to reporters that the rate laid down by the Meghalaya government applies only to transport within Meghalaya. It does not, however, apply to trucks who transport goods outside the state.
Dhar said that the government rates, applicable since 2022, within Meghalaya are Rs 11 per tonne per kilometre for blacktopped roads, Rs 12 for gravel topped roads and Rs 14 for kuccha roads.
Dhar added that the dispute is between the transporters and the cement plants but, as a government, any aggrieved party is welcome to meet him.
Meanwhile, Deputy CM Prestone Tynsong, who is in charge of the Home Department, said that authorities in East Jaintia Hills had held talks with MCTODA and the cement companies. He also said that the prescribed government rates apply within Meghalaya only and cannot be enforced by Meghalaya in Assam.
TAXIS UNION BACKS TRUCKERS
The truckers received support today from the All Khasi Meghalaya Tourist Taxi Association. The AKMTTA criticised the police for resorting to tear gas.
The association also threatened to disrupt the upcoming Cherry Blossom Festival if the government does not heed the truckers’ demands.
The truckers’ organisation also received backing from the minor Khun Hynñiewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM).
