Police stepped up security in and around Shillong's Police Bazaar on Friday, with security personnel deployed at several points in and around the busy commercial area.
Police, paramilitary personnel and members of the Special Operations Team (SOT) were seen at key locations, while additional patrols were carried out in several parts of the city.
The security arrangements were tightened amid tension following the recent attack on an Assam-registered commercial vehicle in Shillong. The incident has also affected the movement of commercially registered vehicles between Assam and Meghalaya, with protests and blockades reported at different points along the inter-state route.
At Jorabat, on the Assam side of the border, protesters associated with the Assam Motor Association blocked the route. On the Meghalaya side, members of the Meghalaya Motor Association and residents blocked Borapani.
In Shillong, the KSU had planned a sit-in protest at Police Bazaar on Friday. The Meghalaya government, however, did not grant permission for the proposed protest. Police subsequently increased their presence in and around the city centre as people gathered in the area.
Personnel were stationed at several points around Police Bazaar, while patrol teams kept watch.
City SP Says Situation Under Control
Shillong City Superintendent of Police Dangsan Khyriem said the situation in the city was under control and that police had taken additional measures as a precaution.
Speaking to the media, Khyriem said special teams had also been deployed for night patrols.
"Things are under control now. We have also deployed special teams for patrolling during the night to ensure security and prevent any untoward incident," the city police chief said.
The additional deployment comes as authorities in Assam and Meghalaya continue to monitor developments following the recent violence and the subsequent disruption in inter-state commercial transport.
For now, Police Bazaar and other sensitive locations in Shillong continue to remain under close police watch.
