Assam-Meghalaya tensions rise after Shillong rally violence, vehicles torched

Guwahati: There was tension along the Assam-Meghalaya border after several people from Assam were injured and vehicles torched during the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) black-flag bike rally across Shillong on Wednesday. Assam-based taxi and commercial vehicle drivers blocked traffic to Meghalaya at Khanapara and Jorabat.

The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) held a black-flag bike rally across Shillong in which several vehicles were torched. There are reports of vandalism around the statue of Swami Vivekananda.

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The student organisation had called the rally after the expiry of its 15-day ultimatum to the state government over a five-point charter of demands.

Assam’s state drivers’ association alleged that Assam-registered vehicles were specifically targeted during the unrest. In a statement on Thursday, the association demanded an apology from Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma and Tourism Minister Timothy D Shira and demanded adequate compensation from the Meghalaya government.

“We demand action against those responsible and a written assurance on the safety of Assamese drivers and vehicles travelling in Meghalaya,” the association said. Assam State Drivers’ Association president Dhrubaraj Axom said Wednesday’s violence was not an isolated incident involving Assam vehicles and drivers.

The association stated, “Some of our people are in hospital and passengers were injured by broken glass. The attackers checked the number plates before targeting our vehicles and pelted stones. They even climbed onto the vehicles and assaulted people,” Das alleged.

Meghalaya Police detained three senior KSU leaders ––president Raymond Kharjana, vice-president Pynkmenlang Sanmiet and general secretary Reuben Najiar –– in connection with the alleged vandalism.

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Najiar denied involvement by KSU members and blamed what he termed “negative elements” for the violence. “People with vested interests had sneaked into the rally with the intention of derailing the KSU’s demands,” he said.

East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem said ,“stone-pelting and vandalism were reported from different parts of Shillong, with government and privately owned vehicles targeted. The busts of Swami Vivekananda and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose at the Relief and Rehabilitation Colony were also vandalised,” Syiem said.

The Meghalaya Tourism Department, on Thursday, issued a toll-free helpline for tourists seeking assistance following the violence.

The tourism stakeholders represented by the Tour Operators Association of Meghalaya (TOAM), Meghalaya Rural Tourism Forum (MRTF), Tour Guides Association of Meghalaya (TGAM), Federation of Shillong Hotels (FOSH), Meghalaya Tourism Development Forum (MTDF), and Meghalaya Rural Tourism Cooperative Federation Ltd. (MRTCFL) stated , “We express our deep concern and strongly condemn the violent incidents of 19 August 2026, during which vehicles from outside the state, including tourist taxis, buses, other vehicles, pedestrians and bystanders, were attacked and vandalised”.

The stakeholders stated, “…Protests must remain peaceful and must not be exploited by anti-social elements to create fear, violence or damage to public property. Meghalaya has worked hard to establish itself as a safe, welcoming and responsible tourism destination. The unfortunate incidents of yesterday have the potential to seriously damage this reputation and have far-reaching consequences for the tourism sector in the coming months. We are already witnessing cancellations and concerns among visitors, including retaliatory developments from Assam, affecting tourism stakeholders as well as ordinary citizens dependent on inter-state travel. “

They observed, “We also believe that there is a need for a serious review of the security arrangements during yesterday’s rally. Since due permission had been granted by the government, it was expected that adequate police and district administration arrangements would be in place to maintain law and order. The visible acts of vandalism raise legitimate concerns about the effectiveness of these arrangements. Tourism today supports the livelihoods of more than 30% of Meghalaya’s population, directly and indirectly, with a significant proportion of these livelihoods based in rural areas.”