Guwahati, August 23: Following the violent incident in Shillong on August 19, a high-level joint meeting was convened between the Assam and Meghalaya governments on Friday at the Koinadhara State Guest House in Guwahati. Ministers and senior officials from both states participated in the discussions, which lasted over three hours and resulted in several critical decisions.
The meeting was led by Meghalaya’s Deputy Chief Minister Dr. S. Dkhar and Assam’s Minister Atul Bora. They extensively discussed the incident in Shillong, attacks on vehicles registered in Assam, the safety of stranded tourists, and coordination between the two states.
The Meghalaya government expressed regret over the unfortunate event that took place on August 19 and assured that strict action would be taken against those involved in the violence. They informed that the president, vice president, and general secretary of the Khasi Students’ Union have been arrested under the Meghalaya Maintenance of Public Order Act.
So far, 15 FIRs have been filed related to the incident. A special investigation team has been formed to identify and apprehend those involved in the violence, particularly the attacks on Assam-registered vehicles. Police have already identified five masked suspects linked to these attacks.
As of now, over 3,770 Assam-registered vehicles have been safely transported from Meghalaya to Assam. The Assam control room has received 54 emergency calls related to 175 individuals, while the Meghalaya control room has received 379 calls. Both state governments are assisting affected individuals and tourists.
It was decided that stranded passengers and vehicles in Meghalaya would be safely transported to Assam within the next 48 hours through a special operation. A special hotline for better coordination between senior police officials of Assam and Meghalaya will also be established.
Helpline numbers have been issued for assistance: WhatsApp: +91 81014888 and landline: 0361-2381-511. This arrangement will remain in place until the situation normalizes completely.
Both states have decided to form permanent joint committees at the district level to address inter-state border issues swiftly. Additionally, a joint committee will be created to include representatives from transport departments and vehicle organizations to ensure the safety of tourist vehicles and interests.
The Meghalaya government reiterated its responsibility to ensure the safety of all tourists and vehicles entering the state. Safe travel arrangements will also be ensured for people moving between Assam and Meghalaya.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma welcomed the outcomes of the meeting on the social media platform X. He mentioned that after the Shillong incident, he had discussions with Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, leading to the meeting of representatives from both states.
Sarma stated that the concerns and sentiments of the people of Assam were given due importance during the meeting. He described the formation of the SIT and the arrest of the accused as steps in the right direction.
The Chief Minister emphasized that Assam and Meghalaya are not just neighboring states but are connected through shared history and brotherhood. He expressed confidence that the commitment of both governments would soon restore normalcy and strengthen the relationship between the two states.
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