Assam cab operators warn of protest as Meghalaya blockade continues despite talks

Cab operators in Assam are warning of renewed protests if the blockade of Assam-registered vehicles by their counterparts in Meghalaya continues. This comes despite a high-level meeting between the two states' governments aimed at resolving the recent inter-state violence.

The Assam cab operators had previously withdrawn a three-day protest on Saturday evening following intervention from Assam's minister for border protection, Atul Bora. However, they reported on Sunday that Meghalaya-registered vehicles were still blocking all Assam-registered vehicles entering the state.

The blockade in Assam's Jorabat began on Friday, protesting alleged attacks on Assam residents and vehicles during violence in Shillong. The unrest was reportedly triggered by a motorcycle rally by the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) on Wednesday, which led to vandalism and the setting ablaze of vehicles, including those with Assam registration numbers.

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They kept blocking Assam-registered vehicles till late Saturday and it continued on Sunday. We told them about the meeting but they said they were not aware of it.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his Meghalaya counterpart Conrad Sangma held discussions, leading to a joint statement and a meeting in Guwahati attended by Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar. Dhar expressed regret over the August 19 incident and assured strong action against those involved, also pledging the Meghalaya government's responsibility for the safety of tourists and vehicles from Assam.

Despite these assurances, an anonymous cab operator stated that the blocking of Assam-registered vehicles continued late into Saturday and into Sunday. "We told them about the meeting but they said they were not aware of it," the operator said, witnessing the continued blockade. Another operator added, "We temporarily called off our blockade to respect the initiatives being taken by the governments of both states but we cannot see a similar attitude from their side. If this continues, we may resume our protest."

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We temporarily called off our blockade to respect the initiatives being taken by the governments of both states but we cannot see a similar attitude from their side. If this continues, we may resume our protest.