The Hynniewtrep Integrated Territorial Organization (HITO) will observe the ‘Red Flag Day’ on November 26 in retaliation for the shooting by Assam Police which led to the death of five villagers, including an Assam cop at Mukroh village in West Jaintia Hills District of Meghalaya.

According to the HITO president – Donbok Dkhar, an agitation rally will commence from Madan Ïewrynghep in Laitumkhrah at 3 PM. It will culminate at Assam House in Dhankheti, where the HITO members will also hold a candlelight vigil for the victims.

Dkhar also informed that effigies of Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and his counterpart Himanta Biswa Sarma will be torched during the agitation.

It is worth noting that six people, including a forest guard, were killed in recent violence at a disputed area on the Assam-Meghalaya border in the early hours of Tuesday after a truck allegedly laden with illegally felled timber was intercepted by forest guards from Assam.

The Meghalaya government suspended mobile internet services in seven districts, while the Assam Police sounded alert in the border districts and also ordered an inquiry by a retired high court judge into the matter.

Soon after the incident, a group of villagers from Meghalaya vandalized and burnt down a forest office in Assam’s West Karbi Anglong district. Armed with machetes, rods and sticks, the mob set fire to items like furniture, papers, and motorcycles parked in the compound as well as the forest office.

However, no injury to the forest personnel has been reported so far. The villagers had left the area before a team of policemen and other security personnel reached the spot.