Tension erupted at the Assam–Meghalaya border near Pillingkata in Basistha after a signboard in the region was found totally destroyed with black paint, provoking allegations from both sides.
Residents in Meghalaya accused people from Assam of vandalizing the board, while a local Assamese woman alleged that individuals from the Meghalaya side had instigated the confrontation by shouting at and assaulting an Assamese woman while blaming locals for erasing the signboard.
According to accounts from the area, a group of women from Meghalaya reportedly crossed into the disputed zone and physically assaulted an Assamese woman residing nearby. The argument grew fast, gathering big crowds from both states as tempers soared.
The situation worsened further between 10 am and 11 am on Monday, when parties from both sides assembled at Pilingkata amid mounting animosity over the vandalized signboard, which was thought to have been put by Meghalaya authorities. A brief scuffle followed, leaving a few persons with minor injuries.
Security forces from both Assam and Meghalaya reached the area within minutes and worked collaboratively to put the situation under control.
Officers from Basistha Police Station claimed the dispute had been settled for the time being, and both forces maintained a strong presence in the vicinity to prevent additional flare-ups.
The event highlighted the continued sensitivity along the Assam-Meghalaya border, where long-standing territorial disputes have frequently fueled intermittent hostilities.
