Restrictions eased but Meghalaya, Assam authorities remain on alert
SHILLONG/SILCHAR: The Assam government on Sunday lifted travel restrictions to Meghalaya after tensions eased between the two northeastern states. The curbs were imposed immediately after six persons died in a firing incident on the border of the two states on November 22, a police officer said.
Considering the present situation and a thorough discussion with Meghalaya police, Assam has decided to lift the ban, which means all the vehicles from Assam, both from Guwahati and Cachar, can enter Meghalaya, Sudhakar Singh, Assam deputy commissioner of police, Guwahati, told media on Sunday.
Cachar SP Numal Mahatta, on Sunday said that they stopped vehicles since November 22, considering security issues. “After instructions from the state government, vehicles are being allowed to move towards Meghalaya from Sunday evening,” he said.
“We are in talks with the Meghalaya police and they are providing adequate security to all the vehicles moving from our side. We have appealed to the passengers to maintain discipline while travelling through Meghalaya,” Mahatta said.
Officials from Guwahati’s Jorabat police outpost said vehicles from Guwahati are moving towards Meghalaya safely and the situation is normal as of now. Five Meghalaya residents and an Assam forest guard were killed in the firing incident took place at Mukroh village on November 22. Both the states imposed restrictions on travel to control the situation.
National Highway 6, which connects Barak Valley part of Assam, Tripura, Mizoram and Manipur with Guwahati through Meghalaya, is the lifeline of this part of northeast and due to a six day long travel restriction, over two thousand goods trucks were standing in Cachar district.
Several NGOS and common people offered food and water to the stranded truck drivers near Digorkhal area in Cachar.
Mukroh village in Meghalaya’s West Jaiñtia Hills district, whose residents died in the firing by Assam forest guards, is fast returning to normalcy.
Speaking to HT over phone from Jowai, the district headquarters, Batlang S Sohliya, the deputy commissioner, said the situation in the district is “normal” and that credit goes to the people of the district for displaying exemplary calm, composure and maturity while responding to the unfortunate situation.
“There was no violence, no acts of vandalism and surely, no disruption to public order as the mood that prevailed in the entire district was that of sorrow and not of wanton anger,” Sohliya said. “Even civil society groups, pressure groups, NGOS responded with dignity and maturity.”
“We all truly mourn the loss of precious lives and there is no room for miscreants to take advantage of the unfortunate situation,” Sohliya said. “Our magistrates and police are maintaining high vigil.”
Lauding the citizens of West Jaiñtia Hills and the entire region for the commendable restraint displayed, he said, barring November 25, when several pressure groups called for a noncooperation movement to protest against the incident, everything else was normal.
“While block offices and other remotely located offices witnessed scanty attendance by government employees, Jowai was more or less normal in terms of office attendance,” he informed. “The credit goes to the people, who have responded in the most cultured and civilized manner.”
Sohliya further informed that he will be going to Mukroh on Monday to handover the cheque of Rs 5 lakh on behalf of the state government to the widow of one of the victims of the shooting, Ricasi Dhar. The mortal remains of the victim were taken to his native village Sanaro for last rites, after formalities were completed at Jowai.
On the economic impact that the incident might have brought upon the residents of the area and region, Sohliya said that with the harvest season underway, the unfortunate incident did cause a dent. “But I have communicated officially through correspondence to my counterpart, the DC of West Karbi Anglong and brought to her notice that immediate steps must be taken to ensure that all ongoing economic activities must not be impeded,” he said, adding, “Paddy fields and other cultivable lands belonging to our citizens are also located in grey areas along the border between the two states, and often during harvest time, differences between people crop up which is nothing new, so keeping this in mind, I have impressed strongly on my counterpart to ensure that the law is upheld at all costs. I am thankful for the warm and positive reciprocation from my counterpart.”
Meanwhile, capital Shillong did not witness any untoward incident till filing of this report, and movement of people and traffic seemed as usual, as on any other Sunday. Mobile internet services, which were banned since November 22, are likely to resume on Monday 10:30 am, as per the latest government order.
The only discomfort that was experienced was that ATMS remained cashless, as banks did not replenish cash stocks for reasons best known to them. Many customers, especially those desiring to withdraw cash for purchase of essentials, medicines and, even pay hospital bills, were left helpless. This was not foreseen by the district administration, which did not communicate accordingly to the banks.