Long queues were seen at petrol pumps across Shillong on Friday evening as residents rushed to refill amid rumours of a potential disruption in fuel supplies to Meghalaya.
The panic was triggered by the ongoing road blockade along the Guwahati-Shillong highway, now in its second day, where Assam-based groups have been restricting vehicular movement between the two states. Social media messages claiming that the Petroleum Mazdoor Union had decided to halt petrol supplies further fuelled the anxiety.
The rush led to severe traffic congestion in several parts of the city, with queues spilling onto main roads as vehicle owners scrambled to fill their tanks amid growing uncertainty.
Assam transport associations blocked Meghalaya-registered vehicles at Jorabat, while the FKJGP blocked Assam vehicles at Byrnihat and the All Khasi Meghalaya Tourist Taxi Association blocked Assam vehicles at Umiam.
Protesters at Jorabat blocked both incoming and outgoing roads and erected a makeshift shelter on the highway.
Ambulances were allowed to pass, but private, commercial and government vehicles from Meghalaya were stopped and turned back.
The protesters said their action followed the violence during the Khasi Students’ Union bike rally in Shillong on August 19, in which Assam-registered vehicles were allegedly targetted.
They maintained that ordinary citizens should not face the consequences of political protests and stated that the blockade would continue until the Meghalaya government engaged with them.
Despite Home Minister Prestone Tynsong’s statement on Thursday that the matter had been resolved and traffic was smooth, the situation on the ground remained unchanged.