Assam today lifted travel restrictions to Meghalaya, six days after being imposed in the aftermath of the Mukroh firing incident.
Vehicles from Assam are now allowed to enter Meghalaya. The Guwahati City Police has also removed barricades in the Jorabat area along the Assam-Meghalaya border and allowed all vehicles to enter Meghalaya.
The lifting of travel restrictions comes two days after Assam Police allowed goods-laden trucks to enter Meghalaya. However, only vehicles with Meghalaya’s registration were allowed entry.
Meanwhile, oil tankers, escorted by police personnel, continued to enter Meghalaya from Assam today ending the uncertainty over fuel supply to Meghalaya.
With improving law and order situation, it expected that mobile internet shutdown may be lifted from tomorrow in the seven districts of the State namely, West Jaintia Hills, East Jaintia Hills, East Khasi Hills, Ri – Bhoi, Eastern West Khasi Hills, West Khasi Hills, and South West Khasi Hills.
The shutdown on mobile internet/data service was first imposed on the morning of November 22 to curb spreading of rumours and incitement on social media platforms.
Shillong city has witnessed several protests in the past few days over the Mukroh incident. Cases of assault on civilians, arson and damage of public properties have been reported in the city.
The State government has deployed two companies each of the Central Reserve Police Force and the Border Security Force for maintaining peace in the city and in other vulnerable districts.
While the CRPF companies are deployed in Shillong, the BSF companies have been deployed in Ri-Bhoi and West Jaintia Hills.
It may be mentioned that six persons including five Khasi villagers and an Assam forest guard were killed in indiscriminate firing by Assam police at Mukroh village in West Jaintia Hills on November 22. Few people were also injured.
Following the incident, an advisory was issued by the Assam Police, asking people to avoid travelling to Meghalaya.
The travel restrictions have caused immense hardship to travellers, tourists and also people in need of medical treatment in Guwahati.
