New Delhi: Following the violent clash on Assam-Meghalaya border, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday expressed grief over the loss of lives and alleged that the BJP’s North-East Democratic Alliance has failed the Northeast.

Six people, including one Assam forest guard, were killed in a firing incident that took place at the Mukroh area along the Assam-Meghalaya border on Tuesday morning.

The clash happened after a truck allegedly laden with illegally felled timber was intercepted by forest guards from Assam.

“Deeply saddened by the unfortunate incident at the Assam-Meghalaya border. 6 precious lives were lost,” Kharge said in a tweet.

“BJP’s NEDA has failed North East. It is high time Union Home Minister resolves the border dispute between two states before things turn more hostile,” the Congress president said, adding that ‘let there be peace’.

Deeply saddened by the unfortunate incident at the Assam-Meghalaya border. 6 precious lives were lost.

BJP’s NEDA has failed North East. It is high time Union Home Minister resolves the border dispute between two states before things turn more hostile.

Let there be peace.

— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) November 23, 2022

NEDA is a BJP-led political coalition with the regional parties of the region.

Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma, in a tweet on Tuesday, tagged Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Shah and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Sarma condemned the incident saying that the “Assam Police and forest guards entered Meghalaya and resorted to unprovoked firing”.

The Meghalaya government also issued an order suspending mobile internet services in seven districts of the state for 48 hours on Tuesday.