New Delhi: Tensions continue to simmer in the border areas of Meghalaya and Assam five days after five civilians and an Assamese forest officer were killed in a dispute over timber felling, with both states continuing to impose various restrictions on the movement of people and internet services.
Meghalaya chief minister Conrad Sangma had on Friday called the firing by Assam officers that resulted in the death of five civilians at the inter-state border a “clear violation of human rights” and moved the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
Sangma and deputy chief minister Prestone Tynsong called on NHRC chairperson Justice (Retired) Arun Kumar Mishra and its other members in New Delhi, a statement issued by the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said.
Speaking to The Wire, Sangma said, “I rushed to Delhi to meet the honourable Union home minister and seek a CBI enquiry into the killings.” Sangma, who arrived back in Meghalaya on the morning of November 26, said he was hopeful that the demand would be met.
Six people, including an Assam forest guard, were killed in firing along the inter-state border on Tuesday after a truck that was allegedly transporting illegally-felled timber was intercepted by Assam forest officers.
Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had admitted that the police force used excessive force in an “unprovoked, uncontrolled and arbitrary” manner.
Assam and Meghalaya have a long-standing dispute in 12 areas along the 884.9-km-long inter-state border, and the location where the violence took place is one of those.
The two states had signed a memorandum of understanding in March this year towards ending the dispute in six of the areas.
Meghalaya was carved out of Assam in 1972 and had since then challenged the Assam Reorganisation Act, 1971 which demarcated the border between the two states.
Restrictions continue
Assam continued to restrict the movement of people and private vehicles to Meghalaya for the fifth consecutive day on Saturday after the violence.
On the other hand, Meghalaya has extended the suspension of internet services in seven affected districts for another 48 hours from 10:30 am on Saturday.
The law and order situation in the affected districts of Meghalaya is, however, slowly returning to normalcy, with shops and commercial establishments in Shillong opening and significant traffic seen on the roads.
No major incidents of vandalism were reported in the Meghalaya capital. Tyres were burnt on the road in the West Jaintia Hills district, a police officer said.
Prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), however, remained imposed to restrict the congregation of people. Security forces have been deployed in large numbers.
Assam Police advised people from the state not to travel to Meghalaya.
“We are asking people from Assam not to travel to Meghalaya at the moment. But if someone has to go to the neighbouring state due to some emergency, we are asking him or her to go in a Meghalaya registered vehicle,” a police officer said.
Barricades have been erected since Tuesday in the Jorabat area of Guwahati and Cachar district, the two main entry points to the hill state.
Commercial vehicles, however, continued to move without any restrictions.
Transportation of fuel from Assam, which was suspended on Thursday by the Assam Petroleum Mazdoor Union fearing an attack on tankers and crew, resumed on Friday following assurance of security by the Meghalaya government.
On the other hand, the Meghalaya government extended the withdrawal of mobile internet services in West and East Jaintia Hills, East Khasi Hills, Ri-Bhoi, Eastern West Khasi Hills, West Khasi Hills and South West Khasi Hills for another 48 hours till 10:30 am on Monday, a notification issued by the principal secretary of the home department Shakeel Ahmed said.
The government said that social media and messaging apps could be misused which may lead to a breakdown of law and order.
An organisation, the Hynniewtrep Indigenous Territorial Organisation, has announced it will observe ‘Red Flag Day’ on Saturday and burn effigies of the chief ministers of Assam and Meghalaya in Shillong.
Another organisation, Hynniewtrep Youth Council, said it will also stage a protest in Shillong demanding the arrest of the “erring” Assam personnel.
Meghalaya Police said it will continue providing armed escorts to oil tankers entering the state from Assam.