A forest office in Assam’s West Karbi Anglong district was vandalised and set on fire allegedly by a group of villagers from Meghalaya.
According to a PTI report, the villagers, armed with machetes, rods and sticks gathered near a beat office under the Kheroni Forest Range in Assam and set it on fire.
Documents and motorcycles parked in the complex were also torched. However, no one was injured in the incident.
An Assam government vehicle was also torched by locals at Mukroh village.
Meanwhile, members of the KSU, FKJGP, HNYF, JSU and RBYF will stage a gathering here tomorrow to protest the killing of five Khasi villagers in recent firing by Assam police at Mukroh in West Jaiñtia Hills.
The demonstration including burning of candles for the victims will be held at the Kiang Nangbah statue near Shillong Civil Hospital at 3 pm.
The five organisations have also invited members of the public to join the gathering.
Meanwhile, a tense atmosphere was witnessed in Shillong today.
Most shops and business establishments in Khyndai Lad and Ïewduh were closed amid fear of violence.
Members of KSU and FKJGP also today morning tied black flags at Motphran and other areas to express solidarity with the Mukroh victims.
They also tried to chase out policemen posted at Motphran. Some of the youths shouted at the police and asked them to “go to the border”.
Meanwhile, the Assam Police continued to advise car owners to avoid entering Meghalaya for safety.
Reports said that at various entry points to Meghalaya including at Guwahati and Cachar districts, the Assam police personnel put up barricades and asked people not to travel to Meghalaya in vehicles bearing Assam registration numbers.
Some shopkeepers in the city expressed fear that stocks may run out if vehicles from Assam continue to avoid entering Meghalaya.
It may be mentioned that the villagers who died at the Mukroh firing have been identified as Thal Shadap (45), Nikasi Dhar (65), Sik Talang (55), Tal Nartiang (40) and Chirup Sumer (40). The dead Assam forest guard has been identified as Bidya Singh Lehte.
Joining the protest against the Mukroh killings, the conglomerate NGOs of FKJGP, ADE, AYWO and FAF have called for a two-hour Non-Cooperation Movement in the entire Garo Hills region from 1 pm to 3 pm on November 25.
