GUWAHATI:
More than 100 tourist vehicles were still stranded in different places of Meghalaya after the Mukroh violence in which six persons were killed on November 22 even as the Assam government claimed that most of the vehicles were brought back safely.
“Assam Police are in touch with Meghalaya Police for bringing back the passengers along with their vehicles safely. Some of them have been brought back safely,” said Assam minister and official spokesperson Jayanta Mallah Baruah addressing a press conference in New Delhi on November 23.
“There are a few incidents of torching of vehicles in Meghalaya. Apart from that, there was no other incident reported,” the minister added.
More than 1,500 vehicles have been stranded in various places of Shillong, Cherapunji and Dawki after the Mukroh incident. We demand that the Assam government take up the issue with the Meghalaya government to bring back the vehicles and passengers safely,” said Biren Sarma, general secretary, All India Road Transport Workers’ Union.
Seven tour operator unions, including Greater Guwahati Tourist Taxi Drivers Union and All Guwahati Tourist Taxi Drivers Association, run more than 1,000 tourist taxis, Tata Sumo and other vehicles from Guwahati to Shillong regularly.
However, tourist taxis from Guwahati have not been allowed to move towards Shillong since Tuesday morning as the Assam Police closed the interstate border at Jorabat fearing further escalation of tension among the people of the two neighbouring states.
“But the vehicles coming from Shillong side are allowed to enter Guwahati,” said Biplav Rabha, publicity secretary of All Guwahati Tourist Taxi Drivers Union at Khanapara here.
“Every time when there is unrest in Meghalaya, the taxi drivers have been targeted by the people. In this case, taxi drivers are in no way connected with the Mukroh firing incident. But they have been targeted. This situation should be put to an end. Both the governments of Assam and Meghalaya should talk,” said Biren Sarma.
In addition to regular taxis, more than 100 Travella, swift Dezire, TATA Sumo, and Innova vehicles are still stranded in different places of Meghalaya. We are waiting for their safe return,” said Nabajit Sarma, advisor, Tourist and Transporter Association of Assam.
“Altogether 800 vehicles were stranded inside Meghalaya. But most of them were brought back. More than 100 are still stranded,” Sarma added.