Shillong, August 22: Commercial vehicle drivers from Assam on Saturday temporarily suspended their blockade of the highway at Jorabat after the Meghalaya Government assured compensation for Assam-registered vehicles damaged during the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) bike rally in Shillong on August 19.
The development followed a meeting between the Assam Government and Meghalaya Government at Khanapara, Assam, on Saturday evening. Assam Minister Atul Bora, accompanied by Guwahati Police Commissioner Partha Mahanta, subsequently met the protesting commercial vehicle drivers at Jorabat and conveyed the outcomes of the discussions between the two state governments.
Bora informed the protesters that the Meghalaya Government had agreed to compensate owners for damage caused to Assam-registered vehicles during the KSU rally in Shillong on August 19.
He also informed them that the Meghalaya Government had constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the attacks on members of the public and vehicles from Assam, along with other decisions discussed between the two governments.
Following the assurance, the Assam commercial vehicle drivers decided to temporarily withdraw the road blockade at Jorabat. However, they warned that they would resume their agitation if the assurances given by the Meghalaya Government were not fulfilled as discussed.
Violence and disruption had erupted during the bike rally organised by the KSU in Shillong on August 19. According to police, around 31 vehicles, including those bearing Assam registration numbers, were damaged, while 16 people were injured in the incidents.
Following the violence, commercial vehicle operators from Assam blocked the highway leading to Meghalaya at Jorabat, a key entry point between Assam and Meghalaya, from Thursday.
The blockade was subsequently extended to other entry points to Meghalaya from Guwahati from Saturday.
