Following last week’s violence in Mukroh, which resulted in the deaths of six people, the Meghalaya government decided on Monday to establish border outposts in sensitive areas along the inter-state border, according to Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma.
The Chief Minister made the announcement after chairing an all-party meeting attended by local MLAs from Jaintia Hills, where they were briefed on actions taken and the state government’s future course of action in the aftermath of the Mukroh firing incident, in which five local villagers and an Assam forest guard were killed.
“Informed the political leaders that the Cabinet will sit tomorrow to finalise the list of the various Border Outposts (BOPs) that will be set up in sensitive areas,” the Chief Minister said in a statement.
“Necessary steps will be taken to make border residents safe and secured,” he said.
Sangma condemned the shooting at Mukroh and observed a two-minute silence to remember the dead. In addition, he stated, “Mukroh firing incident is a personal loss to the state of Meghalaya. I have appealed to all political leaders to work together to ensure normalcy returns and no further violence occur in the State.”
The Chief Minister also stated that the police have opened an investigation into those who were involved in an assault and intimidation inside the Shillong Civil Hospital last week.
“Such violent acts are unacceptable. Actions will be taken as per law against individuals,” He stated.
Meanwhile, the state government reversed its decision to suspend mobile internet services in the seven districts of the Khasi Jaintia Hills region affected by the November 22 shooting at Mukroh, in which six people were killed by Assam Police.
Heavy security remains in place along the Assam-Meghalaya border, where six people were killed in violent clashes, according to officials. Restrictions under Section 144 of the CrPC also remained in effect at the clash site and surrounding areas.
In the early hours of November 22, violence erupted near the disputed border between the two states in West Karbi Anglong district, after a truck allegedly laden with illegally felled timber was intercepted by forest guards from Assam.