Assam: A day after six people, including a forest guard, were killed in a skirmish after police stopped a vehicle that was reportedly smuggling timber, tensions erupted along the Assam-Meghalaya border on Wednesday.
Following the altercation, Meghalaya shut off mobile internet access for 48 hours in seven state districts. Himanta Biswa Sarma, the Chief Minister of Assam, said: “We have ordered a judicial investigation and have referred the matter to the CBI. The Superintendent of Police (SP) has been transferred and local police and forest officials have been placed under suspension.”
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Unregistered vehicles prohibited to enter Meghalaya
According to sources, the Assam Police set up barricades at various points along the border and only permitted vehicles with a Meghalaya registration plate to enter the state of Meghalaya in an effort to prevent any unfortunate incidents.
After the altercation, the Assam government issued a payment of Rs. 5 lakh to each of the relatives of those slain in the shooting incident.
Conrad K. Sangma, the chief minister of Meghalaya, and Prestone Tyngsong, his deputy, will visit Mukroh village on Wednesday to meet with the families of the deceased. The chief minister added that grants would be given to the surviving family members of the deceased.
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Conflict over timber smuggling
A crew from the Assam Forest Department reportedly intercepted the truck at the Meghalaya border in Moikrang in the West Karbi Anglong district at around three in the morning.
Hot pursuit followed the truck’s attempt to elude capture. The vehicle’s tyre was punctured when the forest guards finally started firing at it.
The truck driver, the handyman, and a third individual were all captured and taken to Jirikinding by the forest guards. The forest guards reported the event to the Jirikinding police station and requested additional help.
Around 5 am, a large group of armed Meghalayans assembled at the location, according to a senior police official quoted by PTI. Six persons, including the forest guard, were killed as a result of the police team’s self-defense shooting after they arrived at the scene.
Bidya Singh Lehte, the deceased forest guard, has been named; Abhimanyu, another forest guard, was hurt in the event.
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