6 killed on Assam-Meghalaya boundary ; mobile internet suspended in 7 Meghalaya districts

Guwahati, Nov 22:  In the wake of killing for six persons the firing incident at  Assam- Meghalaya boundary in the wee hours today, Meghalaya government  has  suspended mobile internet/data services for the next 48-hours from 10-30 am today in seven districts of the state - West Jaintia Hills, East Jaintia Hills, East Khasi Hills, Ri-Bhoi, Eastern West Khasi Hills, West Khasi Hills and South West Khasi Hills.

Six including a forest guard, were killed in violence at the Assam-Meghalaya border after the police intercepted a truck transporting illegal timber in the early hours of Tuesday, officials said.
The truck was intercepted at the Meghalaya border by an Assam Forest Department team around 3 am, West Karbi Anglong's Superintendent of Police Imdad Ali said.
As the truck tried to flee, the forest guards fired at it and punctured a tyre. The driver, handyman and another person were apprehended, while others managed to escape, he said. The forest guards informed the Zirikending police station about the incident, and asked for reinforcements, he added.

As the police reached, a huge number of people from Meghalaya armed with 'dao' (dagger) and other weapons gathered at the spot around 5 am, the officer said.
As the mob gheraoed the forest guards and the police demanding the immediate release of those arrested, the officers fired at them to bring the situation under control, he said.
"A forest home guard and five persons were killed in the incident. The situation is under control now," the officer said.
However, it was not immediately clear how the forest guard, identified as Bidyasing Lekhte, was killed.

Following the incident at Mukroh, several Assam vehicles were prevented from entering Meghalaya at Jorbat by the Jorabat police today in a bid to  prevent any untoward incident and public safety, according to Nongpoh correspondent.