What was earlier brushed off by the government as a “rumour” turned out to be true today, when a group of members of the Hynñiewtrep National Youth Front (HNYF) descended at Umtyngngar, to stop tourist vehicles registered in Assam from visiting tourist spots in Meghalaya.
A week earlier, social media was rife that there was a restriction on Assam tourist vehicles from taking tourists to tourist spots across Meghalaya. While Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh had claimed that the restriction is out of the question and dead in the water, Meghalaya Police termed it “completely baseless” and a “misinformation.”
A group of HNYF members converged at Umtyngngar which has a diversion, with one road leading towards Dawki and the other to Sohra.
All Assam registered tourist taxis were prevented from proceeding towards the two popular tourist destinations much to the surprise of tourists. Many of them had to turn back to Shillong as the HNYF members were unrelenting.
After a few hours due to the intervention of Sohra police led by Sub-Divisional Police Officer Pynhunlang Manik Syiem and Sohra Police Station Officer in Charge Anthony B. Khongsit, the tourist taxis were allowed to proceed to Sohra.
The HNYF asserted that its decision to chase away Assam registered tourist taxis was part of the movement to force the State government to implement the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA) 2026. It also claimed that the ferrying of tourists by outside vehicles is causing financial loss to local tourist operators.
HNYF president Sadon Blah questioned the existence of the entry-exit points for migrant labourers and tourists verification. He said the government is lying on the issue of implementing the entry-exit points as it is only a political gimmick to fool the public.
East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police Sylvester Nongtnger said around 10 HNYF members who disrupted the entry of tourist vehicles were picked up and a case was registered at Mawngap police station.
He said security forces will be beefed up in strategic locations to ensure the safety of tourists.
It may be mentioned that this also comes after the All Khasi Meghalaya Tourist Taxi Association had demanded that Assam tourist taxis be restricted to dropping off visitors to Shillong. The tourists would then be required to utilise locally-registered tourist taxis to visit places within the state. The idea was that local tourist taxi drivers would have a more secure income this way.
