Before dawn on 22 November 2022, Assam forest personnel stopped a truck allegedly carrying illegally felled timber near Mukroh, a village on the disputed Assam-Meghalaya border. Hours later, Assam police and forest guards fired on a crowd that had gathered, and six people died: five Meghalaya villagers and an Assam forest guard. Meghalaya cut mobile internet in seven districts, vehicles from Assam were attacked in Shillong, and both states asked for a CBI probe, which the agency took over in 2024.
Key takeaways
- Assam police said a crowd armed with sharp weapons surrounded its team after a timber truck was stopped, and the team fired to control it. Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma called the firing "unprovoked".
- Meghalaya cut mobile internet in seven districts; Assam vehicles were attacked in Shillong and Assam told residents not to drive there.
- In September 2023 both states agreed to wind up their commissions and ask the CBI to investigate. By May 2024 the CBI had re-registered the two FIRs. No charge sheet had been reported by October 2026.
Background: a disputed border and a timber route
Meghalaya was carved out of Assam in 1972 under the Assam Reorganisation Act, 1971, which it challenged; disputes arose at 12 locations along the 884.9 km border Scroll.
On 29 March 2022 the two Chief Ministers signed a memorandum of understanding in New Delhi in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, settling six of the 12 areas Outlook LiveLaw. Mukroh lies in the Block-I area, one of the six left for a second phase Outlook (PTI).
The states disagree on where the village is. Meghalaya calls it Mukroh, in West Jaintia Hills district. Assam calls it "Mukhrow" and says it is in West Karbi Anglong district, under Jirikinding police station Scroll.
Timeline
Truck stopped
Per West Karbi Anglong SP Imdad Ali, forest officials stop a truck carrying illegal wood; it tries to flee, guards shoot out a tyre and hold three people including the driver IANS via Morung Express.
Crowd gathers, police fire
A crowd from Mukroh gathers and demands the release of the men. Assam police and forest personnel open fire. Six people die Scroll.
Forest office and vehicles burnt
Villagers set fire to an Assam forest beat office under the Kheroni range. A car with an Assam number plate is burnt in Shillong Scroll (PTI).
Shah promises CBI probe; Shillong unrest
Amit Shah assures a Meghalaya delegation of a CBI inquiry. In Shillong a traffic booth is torched and a bus attacked, and police use lathis Deccan Herald.
Shutdown and effigies
Shillong offices and banks shut in a "non-cooperation" call by five pressure groups; on 26 November groups burn effigies of Amit Shah, Conrad Sangma and others EastMojo Scroll.
The firing and the dead
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma named the dead as Thal Shadap, 45, Nikhasi Dhar, 65, and Sik Talang, 55, who died on the spot, and Tal Nartiang, 40, and Chirup Sumer, 40, who died in hospital IANS via Morung Express.
The sixth victim was Bidyasing Lekthe of the Assam forest department, described by different outlets as a forest guard or home guard Sentinel. Karbi groups in Assam later called his death "mysterious", citing a video in which he said guards at the Mukroh forest camp worked under threat EastMojo.
On the first day Assam put the toll at four, three civilians and a forest guard; Meghalaya said six Outlook IANS via Morung Express.
Both accounts
Villagers' and Meghalaya's account
The Meghalaya government said "Assam Police and Assam Forest Guards entered Meghalaya and resorted to unprovoked firing" Claim · Meghalaya government Outlook. Sangma later called it "excess use of power" Deccan Herald.
Farmer Budki Sumer told EastMojo that Assam police stopped his car of harvested rice behind a timber truck at about 1 am and took three of them to the Mokoilum outpost, where he said they were handcuffed, stripped and beaten Claim · Villager. Another villager said police fired while the crowd was demanding the three men's release. Local sources alleged that forest staff took money to let timber pass Claim · Unnamed local sources EastMojo.
Two Meghalaya groups said the villagers were "exercising their traditional customary rights over the forest produce" Outlook.
Assam police and government account
Assam Police said: "When the truck was stopped by the forest party personnel, they were gheraoed by unknown miscreants who resorted to violence. In order to save their lives, the forest party resorted to firing" Government's position Outlook.
Police said a large crowd from Meghalaya surrounded the team with sharp-edged weapons. SP Imdad Ali said: "The angry mob demanded the release of those arrested. The police team had to open fire to control the violent mob" IANS via Morung Express.
On 23 November Chief Minister Sarma took a different line: "I think the firing was not necessary and it appears to be unprovoked." He said it was "a fall-out of the clash between locals of Meghalaya and forest and police personnel of Assam and not a border clash" Scroll. In March 2023 he told the Assam Assembly that Mukroh is part of West Karbi Anglong and, citing the district SP, described the clash as one between "Assam Police and forest pirates of Meghalaya" Deccan Herald (PTI).
Protests, arson and the internet shutdown
The internet order covered West Jaintia Hills, East Jaintia Hills, East Khasi Hills, Eastern West Khasi Hills, West Khasi Hills, South West Khasi Hills and Ri Bhoi. The stated aim was to stop social media being used to escalate the conflict Madhyamam. It was extended at least twice, to Sunday 27 November Scroll Deccan Herald.
On the night of the firing, villagers armed with machetes, rods and sticks burnt the Assam forest beat office near Mukroh, including furniture, documents and motorcycles; no staff were hurt, officials said EastMojo (PTI). A government vehicle was burnt in Mukroh. PTI reported that the Khasi Students' Union took responsibility for burning the office and the vehicle Claim · PTI report Scroll.
In Shillong, the driver of an SUV with an Assam number said a group of "around 20-30 men" set it alight Scroll. Some people from Assam were allegedly harassed by protesters Deccan Herald. Many students from Assam left Shillong fearing attack, and CRPF and SSB were sent to Shillong, Jowai and Ri-Bhoi Deccan Herald.
Hynniewtrep Youth Council general secretary Roy Kupar Synrem said the firing happened "due to the lack of seriousness on the part of the three governments to resolve the border dispute". Prohibitory orders were in force at Mukroh Scroll. Meghalaya cancelled official festivals, including the Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival Scroll. We found no report of a formal curfew in Shillong over Mukroh.
Assam's travel advisory
From 22 November Assam police barricaded Jorabat in Guwahati and Cachar district and asked people not to take Assam-registered private cars into Meghalaya. Guwahati DCP (East) Sudhakar Singh said "miscreants are targeting such vehicles there". Trucks and other commercial vehicles were not stopped EastMojo (PTI). The curbs were lifted on 27 November, with escorts and patrols on vulnerable roads Scroll.
Inquiries and the CBI case
- Assam's commission: A one-person commission under Justice (retd) Rumi Kumari Phukan was set up under the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952 EastMojo. Its deadline was extended twice. It submitted its report on 20 September 2023, which was not made public IANS via Morung Express.
- Meghalaya's probes: Meghalaya registered an FIR, set up an SIT under the DIG Eastern Range and announced its own judicial commission EastMojo (PTI). In May 2023 a commission headed by Justice (retd) T Vaiphei was hearing witnesses, with lawyers for both states and the villagers Sentinel.
- Rights commissions: Sangma told the NHRC on 25 November the firing was "a clear violation of human rights"; the Meghalaya Human Rights Commission took suo motu cognisance IANS via Morung Express.
- Commissions wound up: On 30 September 2023 the two Chief Ministers agreed to end both commissions, because witnesses from each state would not go to the other state to testify, and to ask the CBI to register the case outside Guwahati and Shillong Outlook (PTI).
- CBI case: In November 2023 Meghalaya Deputy CM Prestone Tynsong said both states had written to the CBI: "Now the ball is in the CBI's court" The News Mill. By May 2024 the CBI had taken over and re-registered the two FIRs filed by the Assam and Meghalaya police Sentinel. We found no reported charge sheet or arrest as of October 2026.
Outcome
- Action against officials: Assam suspended Kheroni range Forest Protection Officer Shikari Enghi and Jirikinding OC Kajal Nath, transferred SP Imdad Ali, Outlook.
- Ex-gratia: Meghalaya announced Rs 5 lakh for each victim's family IANS via Morung Express. Assam announced Rs 5 lakh to the next of kin of all six Outlook.
- Policy: Assam's Cabinet ordered an SOP on use of lethal weapons along interstate borders Sentinel.
The border talks since Mukroh
Sangma said a week after the firing that the second phase of talks had become "slightly complicated" Outlook (PTI). A single judge of the Meghalaya High Court had stayed the March 2022 pact on a petition arguing it needed Parliament's approval under Article 3; on 6 January 2023 the Supreme Court stayed that order, saying "the interim stay was not warranted" LiveLaw.
Second-phase talks began on 24 May 2023 on Langpih, Borduar, Nongwah-Mawtamur, Desh Doomreah, Block I and Block II, and Psiar-Khanduli Sentinel. Talks then halted for several months in 2024 Assam Tribune.
On 1 July 2026 Meghalaya reconstituted three regional committees, one of them for West Jaintia Hills covering Block-I/Psiar-Khanduli and the Lapangap-Mukroh sector, with 45 days to report Assam Tribune. Deputy CM Sniawbhalang Dhar said the next round would follow once Assam formed its committees Northeast News. On 21 September 2026 UNI reported tension after more than 20 Assam police personnel patrolled part of Mukroh on foot without informing Meghalaya police UNI.
Questions people ask
Is Mukroh in Assam or Meghalaya?
Both states claim it. Meghalaya places it in West Jaintia Hills district. Assam calls it "Mukhrow" and places it in West Karbi Anglong district.
Was the firing provoked?
Accounts differ. Assam police said an armed crowd surrounded the team and it fired in self-defence. Meghalaya called it unprovoked. Assam's Chief Minister said the next day the firing "was not necessary and it appears to be unprovoked". No inquiry finding has been made public.
Who is investigating the Mukroh firing?
The CBI, which by May 2024 had re-registered the FIRs filed by both state police forces after the two states wound up their judicial commissions. No charge sheet had been reported by October 2026.
Sources
- Scroll: Six dead after Assam Police open fire at villagers in Meghalaya, claims CM Conrad Sangma, 22 Nov 2022
- Morung Express (IANS): Bloody Tuesday near Assam-Meghalaya border, 22 Nov 2022
- Outlook: Six killed in Assam-Meghalaya border firing, border dispute talks feared to be impacted, 22 Nov 2022
- Madhyamam: Assam-Meghalaya border firing: six killed, seven districts cut off internet, 22 Nov 2022
- Sentinel: Police firing along Meghalaya border, 6 killed, 23 Nov 2022
- Scroll: Assam Police firing along Meghalaya border was unprovoked, says CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, 23 Nov 2022
- Scroll: Assam forest office, two vehicles in Meghalaya torched after police shooting, 23 Nov 2022
- EastMojo (PTI): Forest office vandalised, vehicle movements restricted, 23 Nov 2022
- EastMojo (PTI): State delegation to meet Amit Shah on Nov 24, 23 Nov 2022
- Sentinel: Police could have shown more restraint, says CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, 24 Nov 2022
- EastMojo: Mukroh ground report, 24 Nov 2022
- Deccan Herald: Violence in Shillong, police booth torched, bus attacked, 24 Nov 2022
- EastMojo: Shillong wears deserted look in non-cooperation call, 25 Nov 2022
- Morung Express (IANS): Meghalaya CM meets NHRC officials, 25 Nov 2022
- Deccan Herald: Assam continues to restrict movement to Meghalaya; net suspension extended, 26 Nov 2022
- Scroll: Assam Police lift travel restrictions to Meghalaya, 27 Nov 2022
- Deccan Herald: Assam lifts restrictions on small vehicles to Meghalaya, 27 Nov 2022
- Outlook (PTI): Border talks process slightly complicated after violence, says Conrad, 29 Nov 2022
- LiveLaw: Supreme Court stays Meghalaya High Court's interim order on border pact, 6 Jan 2023
- EastMojo: Karbi groups submit memo on Mukroh firing to probe panel, 9 Jan 2023
- Deccan Herald (PTI): Assam CM says Mukroh village part of state, 13 Mar 2023
- Sentinel: Judicial panel orders Assam govt to file additional plea by May 30, 26 May 2023
- Morung Express (IANS): Inquiry committee submits report on Mukroh clash, 22 Sept 2023
- Outlook (PTI): Assam and Meghalaya CMs decide in favour of CBI probe, 30 Sept 2023
- The News Mill: Meghalaya govt already written to CBI, says DyCM, 22 Nov 2023
- Sentinel: CBI takes charge of investigation, 31 May 2024
- Assam Tribune: Delay in border talks due to complexity, 29 Sept 2024
- Assam Tribune: Assam sees early border settlement as Meghalaya revives boundary panels, 1 Jul 2026
- Northeast News: Border talks to resume after Assam forms regional committees, says Dhar, 15 Jul 2026
- UNI: Assam-Meghalaya border tense after Assam Police conduct foot patrols in Mukroh, 21 Sept 2026