Guwahati: Assam continued to impose restrictions on the passage of people and private vehicles to Shillong in response to the unrest that followed the border shooting in several regions of Meghalaya for the fifth day in a row on Saturday.
However, the suspension of internet access in the seven affected districts has been extended by Meghalaya for an additional 48 hours beginning at 10.30 am on Saturday.
However, the law and order situation in the afflicted Meghalayan districts is gradually returning to normal as Shillong’s stores and other business establishments open and there is heavy traffic on the highways.
No significant occurrences were reported in Shillong over the past 24 hours, a police officer said with the exception of a few isolated incidents like tyres burning on the road.
However, despite the extensive deployment of security personnel prohibition orders pursuant to Section 144 of the CrPC continued to be in effect in the disputed region.
People were advised not to travel to Meghalaya, especially to Shillong due to the law and order situation, according to the Assam Police.
The travel warning was issued after violence broke out in Mukroh village early on Tuesday after Assam forest guards stopped a truck carrying “illegally felled timber.”
The ensuing clashes claimed the lives of five tribal villagers from Meghalaya and an Assamese forest guard.
“We are asking people from Assam not to travel to Meghalaya at the moment. But if someone has to go to the neighbouring state due to some emergency, we are asking him or her to go in a Meghalaya registered vehicle,” a police officer said.
Since Tuesday barricades have been put up in the Guwahati area of Jorabat and the Cachar district which are the two main entryways to the hill state.
According to the government, social media and messaging services could be abused which could result in the breakdown of law and order.
In Shillong, an organisation called the Hynniewtrep Indigenous Territorial Organization has declared that on Saturday, it will celebrate “Red Flag Day” and burn effigies of the chief ministers of Assam and Meghalaya.
Another organisation, Hynniewtrep Youth Council, said it will also organise a protest in Shillong demanding the arrest of the “erring” Assam officials.