Small traders from Assam faced fresh trouble today after they were stopped from selling vegetables in neighbouring Meghalaya and forced to return home. More than a hundred traders from the Mankachar area came back with unsold produce after being blocked at a weekly market in Meghalaya.
The incident took place at the weekly Najeng market in Tura, the district headquarters of West Garo Hills. According to local sources, Garo organisations and traders did not allow the Assamese traders to do business at the market and asked them to leave.
The situation in parts of Meghalaya has remained tense following an incident about nine days ago in Rajabala, where a member of an organisation named Achik was allegedly assaulted by miscreants from a non-Garo community. The injured person later died, which led to anger and protests among Achik organisations and Garo residents in the state.
Due to fear and uncertainty, more than a thousand workers from Assam have reportedly returned to Mankachar over the past few days. On Friday, despite the tense atmosphere, over a hundred small vegetable traders from the Kuchnimara area travelled to the Najeng market to sell their produce. However, they were stopped and sent back without being allowed to trade.
After returning, the traders went to the Mankachar police station and reported the matter. Following this, the Mankachar Police contacted the Meghalaya Police and discussed the issue over the phone. Police officials said the safety of traders and workers must be ensured.