SHILLONG, AUG 22: Normalcy will return to Shillong soon, Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar said on Saturday after a three-hour joint meeting of the Assam and Meghalaya governments to review the August 19 violence.
The meeting, held on the advice of Chief Ministers Conrad K Sangma and Himanta Biswa Sarma, was led by Dhar and Assam Cabinet Minister Atul Bora with senior officials of both states.
A joint press release will be issued, Bora said.Dhar said the Meghalaya government has expressed sincere regret and assured strict action.
The KSU president, vice president and general secretary have been arrested under the Meghalaya Maintenance of Public Order Act and 15 FIRs registered. Five masked persons who attacked Assam-registered vehicles have been identified and a Special Investigation Team constituted to identify all miscreants.
Over 3,007 Assam-registered vehicles have been escorted safely to Assam so far.
The Assam control room received 54 distress calls concerning 75 people, including those in two private and five tourist vehicles, while Meghalaya’s control room received 379 calls, all of which were assisted.
Vehicles sheltered at Meghalaya House, numbering 400-500, have mostly crossed transit corridors and the remaining will be escorted within 48 hours.
Both states decided to set up an IG-level coordination mechanism between IG Special Branch, Assam and IG Law & Order, Meghalaya with helpline support till normalcy returns, a district-level joint committee of Deputy Commissioners and police of Nongpoh and Kamrup Metro to resolve border issues, and a transport committee of Commissioner and Secretary-level officers and tourist vehicle associations to regulate movement and protect tourism interests.
Safe transit will be ensured for vehicles from Barak Valley to other parts of Assam via Meghalaya and vice versa. Meghalaya will take responsibility for safety of tourists and vehicles entering the state, Dhar said, adding compensation for victims and the injured will be provided as per law after examination by the Chief Secretary.
Appealing for calm, Dhar said Assam and Meghalaya live like brother and sister and both governments will work unitedly to restore normalcy.
