Shillong, May 13 (PTI) Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar on Wednesday said the state government would send more security personnel to Lapangap village along the interstate border with Assam to ensure uninterrupted farming activities amid tensions and alleged disturbances by Karbi groups.
The assurance came after hundreds of residents from Lapangap village in Meghalaya’s West Jaintia Hills district marched to the secretariat demanding protection for farmers, alleging repeated harassment and destruction of crops by people from Assam’s Karbi Anglong district.
“We had a very fruitful meeting. I have assured them that the government will do everything possible to protect our people and ensure that peace prevails as before,” Dhar told reporters after meeting the delegation.
The protest was led by the Dorbar Shnong of Lapangap village and supported by several pressure groups.
Dhar said the issue discussed during the meeting was related to the livelihood of farmers and not the interstate boundary dispute between Meghalaya and Assam.
“Today’s discussion was not about the border issue. We discussed the livelihood concerns of the people of Lapangap. The border issue has to be dealt with at the state level,” he said.
The DyCM said incidents of disturbance had surfaced in recent days at a time when farmers had started cultivation activities.
“They came seeking intervention because some Karbi groups were troubling them, and we have assured them that additional security forces will be deployed from tomorrow to ensure that cultivation activities continue without any disturbance,” Dhar said.
On whether the matter had been taken up with Assam, Dhar said discussions had already begun between officials of both states.
“The deputy commissioners from both sides will hold talks. Discussions were already held in the past few days, but more talks are needed,” he said.
Dhar said Meghalaya was also waiting for the Assam government to appoint a new chairman of the regional committee from its side for further discussions on border-related matters.
“There is already some deployment there, but more security forces are required. Therefore, we will send additional police personnel to ensure the safety and security of people living along the border,” he added.
Assistant Rangbah Shnong of Lapangap village, Samkhih Situng, said the villagers had sought complete protection for farmers so they could continue cultivation peacefully.
“We face harassment all the time. We cultivate on our own land, but people from the Karbi side come at night and destroy our crops,” Situng alleged.
He said villagers were “95 per cent satisfied” with the government’s assurance and hoped adequate security, including deployment of SF-10 personnel, would be ensured in the area. PTI JOP RG
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