'Restriction' of movement between Assam and Meghalaya continues; Internet suspension extended

Following unrest in a contentious area along the interstate boundary that resulted in the deaths of six persons, Assam continued to impose restrictions on the movement of people and private vehicles to Meghalaya on Saturday for a fifth day in a row.
However, Meghalaya has extended the suspension of internet access in the seven affected districts for a another 48 hours, beginning at 10.30 am on Saturday.

Despite the extensive deployment of security personnel, however, prohibition orders pursuant to Section 144 of the CrPC continued to be in effect in the disputed region.
People from Assam were urged by the police not to visit Meghalaya due to the state's unstable law and order situation.

The travel warning was issued following an uprising that broke out in Mukroh village early on Tuesday after Assam forest guards stopped a truck carrying "illegally fallen timber." The ensuing confrontations resulted in the deaths of six persons, including a forest guard from Assam and five tribal peasants from Meghalaya.

The two main access gates into the hill state, the Cachar district and the Jorabat area of Guwahati, have been blocked off with barricades since Tuesday.

However, there were no limits on the movement of commercial trucks.
Following assurances of security from the Meghalayan administration, the transportation of petroleum from Assam, which had been halted on Thursday due to concerns over attacks on tankers and crew by the Assam Petroleum Mazdoor Union, resumed on Friday. Oil tankers entering the state from Assam would continue to be escorted by armed officers, according to Meghalaya Police.

In Shillong, an organisation called the Hynniewtrep Indigenous Territorial Organization has declared that on Saturday, it will hold a "Red Flag Day" and burn effigies of the chief ministers of Assam and Meghalaya. Another group, the Hynniewtrep Youth Council, announced that it will also hold a demonstration in Shillong to call for the detention of the "erring" Assam personnel.