GUWAHATI: The Meghalaya government has assured that it will compensate owners of Assam-registered cars and vehicles damaged during the August 19 violence in Shillong.
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The assurance was given by Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Dr. S. Dhar during a joint meeting between the Assam and Meghalaya governments held in Shillong on Saturday.
The meeting focused on the fallout of the August 19 incident, in which Assam-registered vehicles and their occupants were targeted. Dr. Dhar expressed regret over the incident and assured that strong action would be taken against those involved.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted to identify and prosecute those responsible. So far, 15 FIRs have been registered, while five masked individuals have been identified in connection with the attacks. The Vice-President and General Secretary of the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) are among those arrested.
Meanwhile, more than 3,700 Assam-registered vehicles have been safely escorted out of Meghalaya into Assam. The governments have also assured that the remaining stranded travellers and vehicles will be safely escorted within the next 48 hours.
The Meghalaya government has further assured that necessary measures will be taken to ensure the safety and security of tourists and vehicles from Assam and other parts of the country travelling through the state.
The two governments have also agreed to strengthen coordination through a dedicated hotline, helplines and joint committees to address inter-state issues and ensure safe movement of people and vehicles.