Shillong

Long queues were seen at petrol pumps in Shillong as fears of a fuel crisis spread among locals amid the ongoing tensions with Assam in the wake of a violent incident that took place in Shillong during a student organisation's protest rally on August 19.

Locals lining up in the queue expressed concerns about a possible fuel supply disruption amid the heated situation along the Assam-Meghalaya border.

"A crisis might happen, that is why it's so crowded... without petrol, there's no life," one local said while queuing.

Asked when the situation would ease, another local said, "We'll see; there is a meeting."

A third added, "We have come to know that supply has stopped from Assam."

Their concerns follow a black flag bike rally organised by the Khasi Students' Union in Shillong on August 19, which turned violent, with several vehicles, including Assam-registered ones, damaged amid stone pelting, attacks on vehicles and arson.

Statues of Swami Vivekananda and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose were also allegedly vandalised, and Meghalaya police arrested three top leaders of the student organisation over the violence.

Following the violent incidents, including attacks on Assam-registered vehicles in Shillong, Meghalaya, on August 19, the Assam Cab Drivers Association and locals have been staging at the Jorabat area along the Assam-Meghalaya border since August 20, and the protesters are not allowing any vehicle from Meghalaya to enter Assam except ambulances and student-carrying vehicles. Amid the prevailing situation, petroleum workers have suspended loading and unloading operations in Meghalaya, causing fuel shortage fears in Shillong.

Assam Border Protection and Development Minister Atul Bora told ANI that, on the instructions of Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma, he held discussions with Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, who has entrusted Deputy Chief Minister S Dhar to deliberate on the situation and explore measures to restore peace and smooth movement between the two states.

"I would like to appeal to the people of both the states to maintain peace and harmony because our relation is very old," he said.

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The Assam government has also issued helpline numbers to assist people from the state who may be stranded in Meghalaya or facing difficulties in movement.