Better Assam-Meghalaya coordination could have averted Mukroh clash: CM Sangma

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma said that he and his Assam counterpart were in touch with each other to prevent recurrence of such incidents

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on December 20 said the clash at Mukroh village near the Assam border, that left six people dead, could have been averted had all agencies of the two State governments kept “proper coordination and communication”.

The Chief Minister said that he and his Assam counterpart were in touch with each other to prevent recurrence of such incidents.

Violence had broken out at the Assam-Meghalaya border in the early hours of November 22 after a truck allegedly laden with illegally felled timber was intercepted by forest guards from Assam.

Six people, including a forest guard, were gunned down amid the clashes.

“Whatever factors and situations that led to this (Mukroh) violence, if proper coordination and communication was maintained by all agencies of both the governments, I am sure it (border violence) could have been averted,” Mr. Sangma told PTI on the sidelines of a programme here.

“Henceforth, proper coordination and communications should be maintained at all levels to prevent such incidents from taking place,” he said.

Mukroh village is located in Meghalaya’s West Jaintia Hills bordering Karbi Anglong district of Assam.