Shillong: The Meghalaya government has suspended mobile internet services in seven districts of the state after three people from the state were killed in Assam police firing along in West Karbi Anglong district on Tuesday morning.
The government has decided two shut down mobile internet services for next 48 hours in West Jaintia Hills, East Jaintia Hills, East Khasi Hills, Ri-Bhoi, Eastern West Khasi Hills, West Khasi Hills and South West Khasi Hills districts.
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Simmering tension prevailed in the state following the killing of three people by Assam police at Mukrang under Jirikending police station in West Karbi Anglong along the Assam-Meghalaya border on Tuesday morning.
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 3 am.
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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.