Shillong, Aug 20: Meghalaya and Assam have decided to work together to normalise the situation evolved from a violence-ridden protest by Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) in the city on Wednesday.
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said he discussed with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma the violence perpetrated during KSU’s black-flag bike rally and the subsequent reactions in Assam.
“We have agreed to work together, as always, to normalise the situation,” Sangma said in his post on X.
He said designated Cabinet ministers from Assam and Meghalaya would meet to take the discussions forward and explore ways to restore “peace, trust and normalcy.”
The Chief Minister also appealed to people in both states to maintain peace, harmony and restraint, stressing the longstanding ties between Assam and Meghalaya.
“Meghalaya and Assam share deep bonds, and we must work together to protect them,” he said.
The outreach between the two chief ministers comes a day after the KSU black-flag bike rally in Shillong led to wide-spread violence with dozens of vehicles, including several Assam-registered vehicles, vandalised by angry protesters, at least one government vehicle torched, and several people on the streets assaulted by angry protesters.
The developments triggered protests by drivers and transport operators in Assam, including at Khanapara, with demands for security and action over the attacks on vehicles travelling between the two states.
