Shillong, Aug 22: Meghalaya has expressed regret over the August 19 violence in Shillong and assured strong action against those involved following a three-hour meeting between Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar and Assam Minister Atul Bora.
According to a joint statement issued by both states after a ministerial-level meeting at Koinadhara on Friday, the Meghalaya government informed that leaders of the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU), including president, vice-president and general secretary have been arrested under the Meghalaya Maintenance of Public Order Act.
Fifteen FIRs have so far been registered in connection with the incident, while five masked persons have been identified as allegedly being involved, particularly in attacks on Assam-registered vehicles, the joint statement said.
The Meghalaya government said a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted to probe, identify and prosecute those involved in the violence, in which 16 people were injured, two vehicles set ablaze and around 31 vehicles damaged.
More than 3,770 Assam-registered vehicles have already been safely escorted out of Meghalaya into Assam. The Assam Control Room has received 54 distress calls involving 175 people, including 22 private vehicles and five tourist vehicles. Meghalaya’s Control Room, meanwhile, has received 379 distress calls.
The governments said most stranded travellers and vehicles, including around 400–500 vehicles earlier held up in Meghalaya, have crossed key transit corridors, including the Umiam Lake section.
Any remaining passengers or vehicles seeking to return to Assam will be safely escorted within the next 48 hours, with a dedicated exercise planned to facilitate their movement.
The two states have also agreed to establish a dedicated coordination mechanism between the IG, Special Branch, Assam, and the IG, Law & Order, Meghalaya, along with dedicated helplines and an online support forum to assist stranded persons.
In a longer-term measure, permanent district-level joint committees involving officials from Nongpoh and Kamrup Metropolitan districts will be constituted to address inter-State border issues. A separate joint committee involving transport authorities and tourist vehicle associations will also be formed to regulate tourist transport and safeguard tourism interests in both states.
Both governments further agreed to ensure safe transit for vehicles travelling between Assam and Meghalaya, including those travelling from the Barak Valley through Meghalaya.
Meghalaya also reiterated that it would take responsibility for the safety and security of tourists and vehicles from Assam and other parts of the country while they are travelling and staying in the state.
