Assam Drivers Protest Following Violence in Shillong
Protests Erupt Over Violence in Shillong
Members of Assam State Drivers’ Association at Jorabat blocking the road and preventing Meghalaya registered vehicles from entering Assam
Guwahati, Aug 20: The recent 'Black Flag' bike rally organized by the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) in Shillong has led to significant unrest in Assam, prompting taxi and commercial vehicle drivers to block access to Meghalaya at Khanapara and Jorabat.
This blockade was a response to reported violence during the rally on Wednesday evening, which included stone-pelting, vandalism, and assaults on drivers and passengers.
Members of the drivers’ association claimed that vehicles registered in Assam were specifically targeted during the chaos.
In a statement released on Thursday, the association demanded an apology from Meghalaya's Chief Minister Conrad Sangma and Tourism Minister Timothy D. Shira, along with compensation from the Meghalaya government.
“We seek accountability for those responsible and a written guarantee for the safety of Assamese drivers and their vehicles in Meghalaya,” the association stated.
Dhrubaraj Axom, president of the Assam State Drivers’ Association, emphasized that the violence was not an isolated incident targeting Assam vehicles and drivers.
“Is visiting Meghalaya a crime for tourists? We want the Meghalaya government to recognize our strength. We require a written assurance for our safety,” he asserted.
Statement from the Assam State Drivers’ Association
Amar Das, a tourist driver who witnessed the violence, claimed that attackers specifically identified Assam vehicles by their registration numbers before launching their assaults.
“Some of our colleagues are hospitalized, and passengers suffered injuries from shattered glass. The assailants checked the number plates before attacking our vehicles and even climbed onto them to assault individuals,” Das reported.
Despite the protests, the association clarified that their actions are against the violence, not the people of Meghalaya.
“We aim to preserve the long-standing relationship between the people of Assam and Meghalaya, but we cannot ignore attacks on our members,” they stated.
In related news, Meghalaya Police have detained three senior KSU leaders—president Raymond Kharjana, vice-president Pynkmenlang Sanmiet, and general secretary Reuben Najiar—due to their alleged involvement in the vandalism during the rally.
Prior to his arrest, Najiar denied any wrongdoing by KSU members, attributing the violence to “negative elements” infiltrating the rally.
“Individuals with ulterior motives infiltrated the rally to undermine the KSU's objectives,” he claimed.
East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem confirmed that multiple assaults and injuries occurred during the unrest.
“Reports of stone-pelting and vandalism emerged from various locations in Shillong, affecting both government and private vehicles. Statues of Swami Vivekananda and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose were also damaged,” Syiem noted.
The Superintendent of Police stated that the three KSU leaders face charges under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for their alleged roles in damaging public property and other offenses during the rally.
The KSU's 'Black Flag' rally was part of a broader protest concerning a five-point agenda, which includes the enforcement of the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act, reforms in recruitment through the Meghalaya Public Service Commission, and stricter regulations for migrant workers.
These events have heightened tensions along the Assam-Meghalaya border, with the drivers’ protest posing a potential disruption to travel between the two states as authorities respond to the aftermath of the violence in Shillong.
With inputs from various sources