Assam, Meghalaya Agree on 48-Hour Evacuation Plan

• Assam-bound passengers and vehicles to be safely escorted from Meghalaya within 48 hours.
• Meghalaya assures action against those involved in the August 19 violence.
• Over 3,770 Assam-registered vehicles have already crossed into Assam safely.
• Joint committees and helplines planned to strengthen coordination and protect tourism.

GG News Bureau
Guwahati, 22nd Aug: Assam and Meghalaya have agreed to complete the safe evacuation of stranded Assam-bound passengers and vehicles from Meghalaya within 48 hours, following the violence reported in Shillong on August 19.

The decision was taken during a joint meeting of the two state governments at the Koinadhara State Guest House on Saturday. The meeting was led by Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister S Dhar and Assam Minister Atul Bora, along with senior officials from both states.

The meeting, which continued for more than three hours, also discussed measures to prevent further escalation and restore normal movement along the inter-state routes.

Meghalaya expressed regret over the August 19 incident and assured Assam that strict action would be taken against those responsible. The President, Vice-President and General Secretary of the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) have been arrested under the Meghalaya Maintenance of Public Order Act.

Fifteen FIRs have been registered in connection with the violence, while five masked individuals have been identified in relation to attacks, particularly those targeting Assam-registered vehicles.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has also been constituted to identify all persons involved and ensure their prosecution.

More than 3,770 Assam-registered vehicles have already been safely escorted out of Meghalaya into Assam. The Assam Control Room received 54 distress calls involving 175 people, including occupants of 22 private vehicles and five tourist vehicles.

Meghalaya’s control room has also received 379 distress calls and has been assisting people seeking safe passage. Around 400-500 vehicles that had earlier been stranded in Meghalaya have crossed key transit routes, including the Umiam Lake section.

Joint Helplines and Committees
The two states agreed to establish a dedicated coordination mechanism between the IG, Special Branch, Assam, and IG, Law and Order, Meghalaya, supported by dedicated helplines and an online assistance forum.

The mechanism will remain operational until normalcy is fully restored.

Permanent district-level joint committees will also be constituted, involving the Deputy Commissioners of Nongpoh and Kamrup Metropolitan and police officials from both states to address day-to-day issues along the inter-state border.

A separate joint committee on tourist transport will comprise senior transport officials and representatives of tourist vehicle associations from both states. It will facilitate and regulate tourist vehicle movement and work towards protecting the shared tourism interests of Assam and Meghalaya.

Assurance of Safe Transit
Both governments agreed to ensure safe passage for vehicles travelling between different parts of Assam through Meghalaya, including those from the Barak Valley. Meghalaya-bound travellers passing through Assam will also be provided safe transit.

The Meghalaya government reiterated that it would ensure the safety and security of tourists and vehicles from Assam and other parts of the country during their stay and movement within the state.

The measures follow heightened tensions after attacks on Assam-registered vehicles in Shillong on August 19, which led to concerns over retaliatory action and disrupted movement along the Assam-Meghalaya border.

The two governments said the coordinated measures are aimed at restoring confidence among tourists, transport operators and residents and preventing further escalation of the situation.