Assam and Meghalaya on Saturday (August 22, 2026) sought an end to the standoff between people of the two States following the violence during a “black flag bike rally” organised by the Khasi Students’ Union in Shillong on August 19, 2026.

Transporters and members of various organisations in Assam blocked the Guwahati-Shillong highway for the third consecutive day on Saturday, demanding an end to recurring attacks on Assam-registered vehicles and tourists, apart from compensation for damages caused during the Khasi Students’ Union rally.

In a bid to end the conflict, Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar met Assam Border Protection and Development Minister Atul Bora in Guwahati on Saturday (August 22). Addressing the media after their meeting along with top officers of the two States, he said five masked persons involved in the attacks on Assam-registered vehicles on August 19 had been identified.

“We have registered 15 FIRs (First Information Reports) so far in connection with the violence. The Meghalaya government has constituted a Special Investigation Team to identify all the miscreants involved and to ensure their prosecution as per law,” he said.

The Meghalaya Police had earlier arrested Khasi Students’ Union president Raymond Kharjana, vice president Pynkmenlang Sanmiet, and general secretary Reuben Najiar in connection with the violence. They are now in 14-day judicial custody.

The Meghalaya government would assess the damage caused to vehicles for compensation according to the law, Mr. Dhar said. More than 3,770 Assam-registered vehicles had been safely escorted out of Meghalaya into Assam since the violence, he also said.

“Any passenger or vehicle yet to be transferred to Assam will be safely escorted and transferred within the next 48 hours. A dedicated exercise will be undertaken to ensure that every tourist or vehicle wishing to return to Assam is facilitated and safely escorted,” he said.

Coordinated mechanism

During the meeting, the two governments agreed to establish a dedicated coordination mechanism between the Inspector General (IG) of Assam Police’s Special Branch and the IG (Law & Order), Meghalaya, along with dedicated helplines. An online support forum will also be activated to help locate and facilitate stranded individuals.

A joint committee comprising the Commissioner/Secretary-level transport authorities of both States, along with representatives of the tourist vehicle associations, would be constituted to facilitate and regulate tourist transport movement and safeguard the shared tourism interests of Assam and Meghalaya.

The Meghalaya government reiterated that it would take responsibility for the safety and security of all tourists and vehicles travelling from Assam and other parts of the country into Meghalaya, during their stay and movement within the State.

Mr. Bora, who led the Assam government delegation, said both States would take necessary steps for the safety of vehicles.

“We all know that such incidents occur in Meghalaya every year. We could understand the public sentiment following the recent violence in Shillong and conveyed it to the Meghalaya delegation. They have assured steps to prevent the recurrence of such incidents,” he said.

Mr. Bora appealed to cab operators and groups in Assam to withdraw their road blockade against Meghalaya. He further appealed to people in Assam and Meghalaya to help restore normalcy, pointing out that the two States share an age-old relationship.

According to reports from Shillong, fuel outlets were running low on petrol and diesel, as oil tankers, and other trucks carrying essentials too, have been stranded on the Assam-Meghalaya border.

Meanwhile, the Meghalaya Linguistic Minority Development Forum has asked the State government to restore the statues of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and Swami Vivekananda desecrated during the Khasi Students’ Union rally in Shillong.

The masked participants of the rally covered the registration plates of their two-wheelers before going on a rampage, attacking vehicles with stones and rods, and assaulting some bystanders, mostly non-tribal people.

Published - August 22, 2026 08:22 pm IST