Cab drivers stage a protest near Jorabat on the Assam-Meghalaya border, demanding safety assurances after reported attacks on Assam-registered vehicles in Shillong disrupted inter-state transport services. Tension prevailed along the Assam-Meghalaya border on Thursday after reports of attacks on Assam-registered vehicles in Shillong during a KSU student rally. The reports triggered protests by Assam cab operators and disrupted transport services between the two northeastern states. On Wednesday, violence broke out during a black-flag bike rally organised by the Khasi Students' Union (KSU) in Shillong. Several vehicles were vandalised and torched during the rally, which escalated into clashes in different parts of the Meghalaya capital. Authorities have since stepped up security amid concerns over law and order. According to reports, at least two Assam-registered vehicles were attacked in Shillong, leaving several occupants injured. The incidents sparked anger among transport operators in Assam, who alleged that drivers and passengers travelling to Meghalaya were being targeted. In protest, cab operators gathered near Jorabat, a key entry point between the two states, demanding immediate action and security guarantees. Demonstrators also briefly stopped a convoy carrying the Superintendent of Police of Meghalaya's West Garo Hills district and raised slogans seeking protection for Assam-based drivers. The agitation has affected inter-state connectivity, with cab operators from both Assam and Meghalaya reportedly suspending services across the border. Passengers travelling between Guwahati and Shillong have faced difficulties as transport operators stayed off the roads. "We are wearing white because our protest is for peace. We do not want to damage any vehicle. We only want safety for drivers and passengers," one protesting driver said. The latest developments come against the backdrop of recurring disputes involving transport operators in the two states. Similar standoffs erupted in 2025 over demands by Meghalaya taxi groups to restrict Assam-registered tourist vehicles from operating in Meghalaya's tourist circuits, leading to blockades and major disruptions at Jorabat. Congress leader Mira Borthakur urged both governments to focus on the safety of drivers rather than politicising the issue. She said the concerns being raised by transport operators should have been addressed earlier and called for coordinated intervention by the Assam and Meghalaya governments. Cab drivers participating in the protest said that their primary demand is safe passage for vehicles operating on the Guwahati-Shillong route. They urged authorities in both states to restore confidence among transport operators and ensure that normal services resume at the earliest. Diana George is Associate Editor at Times Now, with over a decade of experience covering national and international news, crime, and local politics. S... View More