Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Monday announced that normal movement between Meghalaya and Assam has been restored following disruptions triggered by violence in Shillong on August 19. The Chief Minister made the statement in the Meghalaya Assembly while presenting a suo-motu statement on measures taken to address the situation and prevent further disturbances along the interstate corridor.

Sangma said delegations from Meghalaya and Assam held a joint meeting on August 22 to assess the fallout of the violence and subsequent disruptions. The Meghalaya delegation was led by Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar, while Assam's delegation was headed by senior minister Atul Bora. Chief secretaries and senior officials from both states also participated in the meeting.

According to Sangma, a road blockade at Jorabat by Assam-based associations was withdrawn following the discussions, allowing the movement of essential commodities between the two states to resume. A dedicated hotline between Assam and Meghalaya has also been established to facilitate quicker coordination and address issues arising along the interstate corridor.

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The Meghalaya government will also constitute a permanent district-level committee comprising the Deputy Commissioners of Nongpoh in Meghalaya and Kamrup Metropolitan in Assam, along with police officials from both sides. The committee will deal with day-to-day issues along the border and work towards their prompt resolution. A separate joint committee involving transport authorities from both states and representatives of tourist taxi associations is also planned to address transport-related concerns.

Sangma added that a meeting chaired by Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister in charge of Transport was held with transport associations after the disturbances. The associations agreed to withdraw their agitation, resulting in the restoration of normal vehicle movement. Another meeting involving the government and transport associations is expected in the second week of September to discuss outstanding issues.

The measures follow heightened tensions after a black-flag bike rally in Shillong on August 19, during which vehicles, including those carrying Assam registration numbers, were attacked. Sangma said the government remains committed to maintaining peace and ensuring the uninterrupted movement of people, vehicles and essential goods between Meghalaya and Assam.

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