Shillong:
At least 103 people have been arrested and 25 cases of attempted arson and rioting have been registered in the ethnic-violence-hit areas in Meghalaya, state police chief S B Kakati said on Monday.
Around 26 villages have been affected in Meghalaya and some 1,500 houses burnt, Kakati said in a media briefing.
"Excessive rumours are floating around as to what is happening on the other side (state). This has created confusion and is creating damage," the DGP said.
Kakati said a decision was taken today to set up a joint control room at Mendipathar in Meghalaya's East Garo Hills district.
"The control room would monitor the situation and verify the rumours and disseminate the information to the people," he said.
The DGP, along with Meghalaya Principle Secretary (Home) would be meeting their counterparts and the Home Ministry team led by its joint secretary Shambhu Singh in Guwahati on Tuesday.
"The situation will be reviewed. We will take a decision on joint patrolling by police from both the states in the violence-hit areas," he said about tomorrow's meeting.
The DGP said 14 companies of paramilitary and police have been deployed in the affected areas and 18 relief camps set up in Meghalaya to shelter the displaced people.