Guwahati | Senior officials of Assam and Meghalaya held a high-level meeting in Guwahati on Saturday to review the situation along the inter-state border following violence in Shillong and protests at Jorabat.

Assam Border Protection and Development Minister Atul Bora and Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar led the meeting, which focused on restoring normal movement between the two states and preventing further escalation.

The meeting came days after vehicles carrying tourists from Assam were allegedly attacked during a black-flag protest organised by the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) in Shillong on August 19. Several vehicles were reportedly vandalised, with windows and windshields smashed, while some tourists sustained injuries.

Bora described the Shillong incident as “unwarranted and unfortunate” and said Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had promptly taken up the matter with Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma.

According to Bora, Sangma had entrusted Dhar with discussions on the prevailing situation and efforts to maintain peace and ensure the smooth movement of people and vehicles between the two states.

“I would like to appeal to people of both states to maintain peace and harmony because our relationship is very old,” Bora said.

The Shillong violence subsequently triggered protests by motor vehicle workers’ unions in Assam. Jorabat, a major entry point between Assam and Meghalaya, witnessed demonstrations from the following day, with protesters stopping Meghalaya-registered vehicles from entering Assam and, in some cases, forcing them to return.

The protests continued for a third day on Friday, with demonstrators demanding compensation for vehicles allegedly damaged in Shillong and an apology from the authorities concerned.

Security was strengthened at Jorabat, with police and reserve personnel deployed to prevent the situation from escalating. Protesters also said that any damage caused to Meghalaya-registered vehicles during the Jorabat demonstrations should be compensated.

A protesting cab driver questioned the security arrangements during the KSU protest in Shillong and said the police deployment at Jorabat had helped prevent damage to vehicles from Meghalaya.

The Shillong violence occurred during a KSU black-flag protest, when unidentified masked individuals allegedly targeted vehicles carrying tourists from Assam. Three senior KSU leaders – president Raymond Kharjana, vice-president Pynkmenlang Sanmiet and general secretary Reuben Najiar – were arrested late Wednesday in connection with the incident.

On Thursday, Sarma said he had spoken with Sangma and that the immediate priority was to address the concerns of Assam residents who remained stranded in Meghalaya amid the tension.

The developments have also prompted calls for stronger action from organisations in Assam. The Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) on Friday called for an economic blockade and warned of retaliatory action against Meghalaya residents living in Assam if attacks on Assamese people in Shillong continued.

The latest inter-state meeting assumes significance as both governments seek to prevent the situation from spilling over into wider tensions. Officials are expected to focus on ensuring uninterrupted movement, strengthening security at sensitive border points and addressing concerns arising from the recent incidents.

Bora appealed to residents of both states to exercise restraint and not allow isolated incidents to undermine the longstanding ties between Assam and Meghalaya.