Guwahati: Following clashes between few Meghalaya people with Assam police and forest guards near the two states border leading to dead of four people, the Meghalaya government on Tuesday suspended mobile internet and data services in seven districts.
The suspension will remain effective for 48 hours with effect from 10:30 am on November 22 in seven districts of Meghalaya including East Jaintia Hills, West Jaintia Hills, East Khasi Hills, Ri-Boi, West Khasi Hills, Eastern West Khasi Hills and South West Khasi Hills.
The decision has been taken to prevent misuse of the messaging system like SMS, WhatsApp and social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
It needs to be mentioned that at least three civilians and a forest guard were killed and a dozen injured in a violent clash at Mukrang under Jirikending police station in West Karbi Anglong along the Assam-Meghalaya border .
According to reports, a forest guard from Assam was killed in the miscreants’ attack while three civilians from Meghalaya were killed in the Assam police firing.
The slain forest guard has been identified as Bidya Singh Lekhte.
According to police sources, the clash between the Assam police and a group of Meghalayans erupted when Karbi Aglong district forest officers intercepted a truck carrying illicit wood in the early hours of Tuesday.
SP for West Karbi Anglong Imdad Ali reported that at around 3am, a team from the Assam Forest Department intercepted the truck near the Meghalaya border.
As the truck tried to flee, the forest guards fired at it and punctured a tyre. The driver, a handyman and another person were apprehended, while others managed to escape, he said.
He stated that the forest guards called the Zirikending police station and requested more officers.
As police reached the spot, a strong mob from Meghalaya armed with sharp weapons gathered at the spot at around 5 am, the officer said.
He claimed that the police and forest guards were fired upon by the mob as it gheraoed them and demanded the quick release of individuals who had been detained.
“A forest home guard and three persons of the Khasi community were killed. The situation is under control,” the SP told a news agency.
Tension has been sparked by the incident in Meghalaya.
