Assam-Meghalaya tensions escalate as highway blockade enters day two

The Assam government is in constant touch with Meghalaya to restore normalcy after alleged attacks on people from the state during a students' rally in Shillong and a subsequent traffic blockade by Guwahati-based cab operators, a minister said on Friday, 21 August.

As the blockade on National Highway-27 entered its second day, the North East Petroleum Mazdoor Union announced an indefinite stoppage of loading and unloading of petroleum products for Meghalaya until peace is restored.

With reports of people from Assam being stranded in Meghalaya, the Assam Police activated helpline numbers and urged those needing assistance to reach out.

Violence erupted during a bike rally organised by the Khasi Students' Union (KSU) in Shillong on 19 August. At least 31 vehicles, including those from Assam, were damaged, 16 people were injured and two vehicles were set ablaze, Meghalaya Police said. Following the incident, commercial vehicle operators in Guwahati blocked traffic to Meghalaya at Jorabat and Khanapara, the main entry points to the neighbouring state, from Thursday.

Speaking to reporters, Assam border protection and development minister Atul Bora, who has been entrusted by chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to coordinate with Meghalaya, said he was in regular touch with the neighbouring state.

Bora said he had held discussions with Meghalaya deputy chief minister S. Dhar. "Several vehicles of Assam were damaged. Many people, including children, were also injured. It is very unfortunate and we are seized of the matter. Our CM has already spoken to his counterpart, and we are in constant touch with the authorities in Meghalaya to ensure normalcy is restored and our people stranded there can travel back safely," Bora said.

He said the Assam government did not have an exact number of people from the state stranded in Meghalaya and was in the process of compiling the figure. "We are constantly working to ensure the safe passage of our people," the minister said.

The Assam Police has opened helpline numbers — 9181014888 and (0361) 2381511 — for people from the state stranded in Meghalaya or facing difficulties in movement, it said in a statement. Information received through the helplines will be promptly taken up with the authorities concerned in Meghalaya, including the local administration and police, for necessary coordination and assistance, it said.

Meanwhile, cab operators and other organisations continued to block the movement of vehicles to and from Meghalaya through the Jorabat and Khanapara areas of Guwahati on Friday. Travellers had to change vehicles at the interstate border, while goods-carrying vehicles bearing Meghalaya registration numbers remained stranded on both sides, officials said.

The protesters, however, maintained that vehicles engaged in essential services were not being stopped.

The North East Petroleum Mazdoor Union claimed that drivers ferrying oil and gas routinely face harassment in Meghalaya, but their complaints to police have fallen on deaf ears. 'Union members will be in cessation of work with regards to Meghalaya till normalcy is restored there,' it said in a statement.

A cab operator at a sit-in at Jorabat alleged, "We will continue this protest till a permanent solution is found. It is a recurring issue of vehicles and drivers from Assam facing harassment in Meghalaya."

Another protester blamed the Assam government for "not taking pro-active steps" to address their concerns. "No official has spoken to us and tried to find out what is happening," he said.

With PTI inputs