Violence, arson as border clash plays out in Meghalaya capital

Rush At Petrol Pumps As Assam Union Cuts Fuel Supply To State

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Guwahati: Tension brewing over the death of five Meghalaya villagers in firing by Assam police along the interstate border two days ago erupted in arson and vandalism in Shillong late on Thursday, creating a grim backdrop to contrasting statements from the northeastern states about whether the incident was linked to their partially resolved border dispute.

A traffic police booth was torched, a bus ferrying CRPF personnel attacked and a contingent of cops greeted with stones and petrol bombs amid a candlelight vigil for the victims. Seven people, including four cops, were injured, PTI quoted SP Vivek Syiem as saying.

Besides the emerging law and order threat, a fuel shortage loomed over Meghalaya after the Assam Petroleum Mazdoor Union called a halt to transportation of petrol, diesel and cooking gas to most of the hill state, barring the so far peaceful Garo hills in the western part.