Assam-meghalaya border firing kills 6

SHILLONG/GUWAHATI: Six people, including a forest guard, were killed in firing at the Assam-meghalaya border in the early hours of Tuesday, the two state governments confirmed.

While the Meghalaya government said the violence occurred at Mukroh in the state’s West Jaintia Hills and was the outcome of “unprovoked” firing, its Assam counterpart said the incident took place in the state’s West Karbi Anglong district when forest personnel opened fire to save their lives from “unknown miscreants” smuggling timber.

Five Meghalaya residents and an Assam forest guard were killed in the incident. Both the state governments said they will seek a probe by a central agency into the firing.