Guwahati, Aug 20 (IANS) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his Meghalaya counterpart, Conrad K. Sangma, on Thursday spoke about the recent violence in Shillong and its fallout, agreeing to work together to restore peace, trust and normalcy between the two neighbouring states.
Sangma said he spoke with Sarma regarding the violence that occurred in Shillong on August 19 and the reactions that followed, which have affected common people and commuters in both Assam and Meghalaya.
“We have agreed to work together, as always, to normalise the situation,” Sangma said in a post on X.
He added that designated Cabinet Ministers from both states would meet to take the discussions forward and explore measures to restore peace, trust and normalcy.
Sarma, in his post, said he had conveyed Assam’s concerns to Sangma over the recent incidents in Shillong, particularly those involving Assam‑registered vehicles. The Assam Chief Minister said state Border Protection Minister Atul Bora had been asked to coordinate closely with Meghalaya authorities and work to ensure peace and normalcy prevail between the two states.
Sarma stressed the close ties between Assam and Meghalaya, describing them as “sister states” bound by deep historical, cultural and people‑to‑people relations.
“Mutual respect, restraint and sensitivity must guide us at all times,” he said, calling for all possible efforts to preserve the harmony, friendship and goodwill that have long characterised relations between people of the two states.
The statements came amid heightened tension following violent incidents during a Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) black‑flag bike rally in Shillong on Wednesday. The rally reportedly witnessed stone‑pelting, vandalism, arson and assaults in several parts of the city. The incidents also triggered concerns over the safety of vehicles and commuters from Assam.
The East Khasi Hills district administration said it would invoke the Meghalaya Maintenance of Public Order Act to recover damages to public and private property. The administration also revoked permission for a proposed KSU agitation on Friday.
Meanwhile, Meghalaya Police arrested three senior KSU leaders, president Raymond Kharjana, vice‑president Pynkmenlang Sanmiet and general secretary Reuben Najiar, in connection with the violence.
Sangma appealed to citizens of both states to maintain peace, harmony and restraint, stressing that Assam and Meghalaya share deep bonds that must be protected. The proposed meeting between Cabinet Ministers from the two states is expected to provide a platform to address immediate concerns and prevent further escalation.
The two governments are now seeking to ensure that the recent incidents do not undermine long‑standing people‑to‑people ties or disrupt movement and economic activity between Assam and Meghalaya.
–IANS
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