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, the Assam government 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. “In an unfortunate incident that occurred at Mukroh village in West Jaiñtia Hills District, 6 persons died due to firing by Assam Police and Assam Forest Guards. Out of the 6, 5 were Meghalaya residents & 1 is from the Assam Forest Guard,” chief minister Conrad Sangma tweeted, as he tagged PM Narendra Modi, Union home minister Amit Shah and Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in the post.
“The Meghalaya government strongly condemns the incident where the Assam Police and Assam forest guards entered Meghalaya and resorted to unprovoked firing,” he added.