Assam Meghalaya Border tension: Literary event of Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival cancelled

Guwahati: The Shillong Literary Festival’s 2nd Edition, which was to be held in conjunction with the Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival in 2022 at Ward’s Lake Shillong has been cancelled due to the incident at the Assam Meghalaya Border in Mukroh Village.

Notably, the Meghalaya Chief Minister called for an emergency along with village chiefs and religious leaders and decided to cancel the second Shillong Literary Festival.

As per a release, it states, reports have been received from Police Headquarters, Meghalaya, Shillong that an untoward incident has occurred in Mukroh, West Jaintia Hills, Jowai, having a potential to disturb public peace and tranquillity, and cause a threat to public safety in West Jaintia Hills, East Jaintia Hills, East Khasi Hills, RiBhoi, Eastern West Khasi Hills, West Khasi Hills, and South West Khasi Hills, which may likely breakdown law and order. 

“Whereas, messaging systems like WhatsApp and social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube etc. are likely to be used for transmission of information through pictures, videos and text, having the potential to cause a serious breakdown of law and order. Therefore, in order to prevent the misuse of the above-mentioned media to disturb peace and tranquillity in the State of Meghalaya and for maintaining law and order, I, C. V. D. Diengdoh, IAS, Secretary to the Government of Meghalaya, Home (Police) Department do hereby promulgate this notification under the provision of Section 5 (ii) of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, read with the Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency or Public Safety) Rules, 2017 to prohibit the following types of media for the next 48 (Forty-Eight) hours beginning from 10:30 am on 22′ November 2022 in the 7 (seven) districts of Meghalaya namely, West Jaintia Hills, East Jaintia Hills, East Khasi Hills, Ri — Bhoi, Eastern West Khasi Hills, West Khasi Hills, and South West Khasi Hills Districts,” the notification reads.

The Indian Telegraph Act of 1885’s pertinent provisions and section 188 of the IPC will both be used to prosecute violations of this proclamation.

Notably, at least 4 people—including a forest guard—were killed in a shooting incident on November 22 morning in Moikrang in the West Karbi Anglong district of Assam along the Assam-Meghalaya border.

According to reports, the incident occurred on November 22 at around 3 am when a crew from the forest department attempted to stop a truck carrying smuggled timber.

There was a vigorous pursuit after the truck fled without stopping. The truck was eventually stopped by the forest guard, who also managed to capture three individuals and bring them to Jiriking by puncturing one of the truck’s tyres.

Upon receiving information on the seizure, the police team reached to the location and brought the illegally-obtained vehicle to the police station.

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