Assamese stranded in Meghalaya; Conrad K Sangma visits Mukroh, pays ex gratia

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The situation is tense for the second day in Meghalaya after the Mukroh firing. Vehicles and people from Assam cannot enter Meghalaya. Several Assam-bound vehicles with tourists onboard remained stranded in Meghalaya. Meanwhile, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and his Cabinet colleagues visited the Mukroh village and met the next of kin of the five villagers killed in police firing. He handed over ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh to the next of kin of each of the five deceased villagers.

Sangma said, "I'm pained to see their suffering. We will stand with them and do everything we can to ensure justice."

Sangma assured all stakeholders that the State government would share its concern with Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Meanwhile, Meghalaya Police handed over the body of Assam Forest guard Bidya Singh Lekthe after the post-mortem to their Assam counterparts. Jirikinding police filed an FIR against a gaonburha and a member of Mukroh on the charge of instigating the mob.

Meanwhile, Assam PCCF (Principal Chief Conservator of Forest) MK Yadav also visited the Mukroh beat office today. He reviewed the situation there.

The Meghalaya Police escorted some stranded tourists to the Assam boundary, but that was not enough to clear the tourists and vehicles stranded in various places in Meghalaya.

According to the Assam Tourist Travelers' Association (ATTA), around 50 vehicles remained stranded in Meghalaya. "The Meghalaya Police told us to leave for Assam at our own risk. When we proceeded toward Assam, miscreants pelted stones and damaged several vehicles. Over 100 tourist vehicles remained stranded in Shillong, Cherrapunji and other places in Meghalaya. We requested the Assam Government to take steps to take all these vehicles to Assam. A section of tourists coming to Guwahati today said that they had gone to Meghalaya for a few days but had to return due to the situation prevailing in the state. All shops and other business establishments remained closed today. Meghalaya police escorted us to the Assam border."

A tourist agent from another state who came to Guwahati from Shillong today said, "I went to Shillong with a group of tourists for seven days. If such things happen, I will not recommend tourists to visit Shillong anymore. It is Meghalaya that will have to incur the loss."

An Assam police personnel said, "We prevent vehicles and people from going to Meghalaya from Assam not to take a risk with their lives. However, discussions are going on at the top level between the two states on ways to bring back the stranded people and vehicles to Assam. Even some Assamese people living in Shillong permanently also want to come to Assam as they feel the situation there is not conducive for them."

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