Shillong, November 6, 2025: Four individuals have been arrested after a violent confrontation erupted at Mawryngkneng along the Shillong Bypass in the early hours of Wednesday. The clash occurred when police were escorting trucks carrying cement and clinker from Puriang and were intercepted by a crowd of around 200 protesters, most of them members of the Meghalaya Commercial Truck Owners and Drivers Association (MCTODA).

The protesters were demonstrating against what they allege is the continued failure of cement companies to follow the government-notified transportation rates. The East Jaintia Hills District Administration had earlier convened meetings with the cement companies, which had reportedly agreed to implement the state-mandated freight rates for intra-state routes.

According to accounts from the ground, several MCTODA members were allegedly assaulted by police personnel during what they described as a peaceful protest in the early hours of November 5. Some individuals were injured during the scuffle.

By Thursday morning, tensions escalated when police fired tear gas shells to disperse the crowd, further aggravating anger among residents of Mawryngkneng. Community leaders—including Sordar Shnong Peter J. Lawai, village elders, and local women—condemned what they called the excessive use of force by police against the protesters.

The unrest triggered widespread resentment, with many residents accusing the government of disturbing the peace and harmony of the village through what they described as “cruel” and heavy-handed action. In response, hundreds of villagers took to the streets, prompting the police to deploy drones for aerial monitoring to prevent further escalation.

Authorities have stated that investigations into the incident remain ongoing.