Shillong, March 4 With the situation improving, authorities in Meghalaya relaxed curfew for a few hours on Wednesday even as the security forces continue to maintain a strict vigil for the past six days in different areas of the hill state following clashes over the Citizenship Amendment Act and the Inner Line Permit.
East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner Matsiewdor War Nongbri said that the curfew was relaxed for four hours from 12 p.m. on Wednesday. However, after the relaxation, the curfew was back and would continue till Thursday.
"While there are no fresh incidents of violence, the curfew would continue as precautionary measures with some relaxations in different times in different areas depending on the situations," the DC said.
Central paramilitary and state security forces since Friday continue to maintain a close watch in the sensitive and mixed population areas of the state capital and its outskirts, including main market places.
On Friday and Saturday, three people were killed and many injured in ethnic clashes and attacks by rival groups in East Khasi Hills district and adjoining areas. The ethnic violence was triggered by the issue of Citizenship Amendment Act and the Inner Line Permit.
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma ordered an inquiry into these incidents. "A magisterial inquiry has been ordered. The district and police administrations have ensured that enough security personnel were put in place in the affected areas," he said.
The Meghalaya Assembly on December 19 last year had unanimously adopted a resolution requesting the Centre to promulgate the ILP in the remaining areas of the state to keep the entire state out of the purview of the CAA, but the Union Home Ministry is yet to issue the statutory notification in this regard.
The northeastern state had witnessed violence in December over the issue of CAA and ILP.
( With inputs from IANS )