Karbi Anglong Violence: Meghalaya CM to meet Home Minister Shah; Assam CM assures of no links with 'inter-state border dispute'

Guwahati, Nov 24: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma will lead a delegation of cabinet ministers of his state to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the national capital on Thursday (Nov 24) to apprise him about the recent firing incident along the border with Assam which left six people dead. Whereas, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the firing incident has nothing to do with the border dispute between the two states.

The delegation from Meghalaya in the desired meeting with Home Minister Amit Shah will demand for an investigation led by either the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or the National Investigation Agency (NIA). On Tuesday (Nov 22), six people were killed and several others injured during an alleged clash between villagers and a contingent comprising Police and forest guards from Assam. The alleged clash took place in the area bordering the West Karbi Anglong district of Assam and Mukroh village in Meghalaya's West Jaintia Hills. Among those killed was a forest guard from Assam.

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On Wednesday (Nov 23), Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma said the probe into the firing incident should be carried out by a central agency. "I have also discussed with the Assam Chief Minister about the incident. We demand that a central agency should investigate. The NIA or CBI should inquire into and investigate the incident. The Assam government has also agreed and they will cooperate and they will also ask the Government of India for the same," Sangma said. Sangma also visited Mukroh village and met the family members of the victims of the firing that took place along the Assam-Meghalaya border.

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At the same time, Assam CM has shared that, "Just to clarify that incident has nothing to do with the border, the way it is reported in national media. It was basically a clash between villagers and police regarding certain forest timbers." Sarma further added, "The matter was related to some clash regarding timbers and we have ordered a judicial inquiry and also referred the matter to the investigation by CBI or NIA. Compensation has been announced and the person responsible is put under suspension."