GUWAHATI: The police in Assam have reportedly restricted vehicles with Assam registration numbers from going to Meghalaya.
This step has been taken by the Assam police as a measure to prevent further escalation of tensions between the two states following the incident of firing in one of the interstate border areas.
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At least six people, including one Assam forest guard, were killed in the firing incident at Karbi Anglong-West Jaintia Hills interstate border area.
According to reports, the Assam police personnel are stopping vehicles from the state from entering Meghalaya at Jorabat.
A violent clash broke out at Mukrang under Jirikending police station in West Karbi Anglong district along the Assam-Meghalaya border on Tuesday morning.
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Police sources said the clash between the Assam police and the a group of people from Meghalaya broke out after Karbi Aglong district forest officials seized a truck transporting illegal timber in the early hours of Tuesday.
West Karbi Anglong SP Imdad Ali said the truck was intercepted on the Meghalaya border by an Assam Forest Department team at around 3am.
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.
The forest guards informed the Zirikending police station and asked for reinforcements, he added.
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.
As the mob gheraoed the forest guards and the police, demanding the immediate release of those arrested, the officers fired at them to bring the situation under control, he said.
“A forest home guard and three persons of the Khasi community were killed. The situation is under control,” the SP told a news agency.
The incident has sparked tension in Meghalaya.