Shillong, May 14: The Meghalaya government on Wednesday assured full deployment of security forces in Lapangap village from Thursday onwards to ensure that farmers can carry out cultivation without disturbance amid reported tensions along the Meghalaya-Assam border.
The assurance was given by Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar after a meeting with a delegation from Lapangap village and several NGOs who had marched to the Secretariat seeking protection for local farmers.
“We had a very fruitful meeting. I have assured them that the government will do its utmost to protect our people and ensure that peace is maintained as usual,” Dhar told reporters after chairing the meeting.
According to the Deputy Chief Minister, the villagers raised concerns over alleged harassment by people from the Karbi side during the ongoing cultivation season.
“It is the season for farmers to begin cultivation, but there have been disturbances from the Karbi side,” he said.
Dhar clarified that the discussion was centred on livelihood issues and not the interstate boundary dispute.
“Today’s discussion was not about the border issue. We discussed their livelihood in Lapangap village. The border issue is a matter to be taken up at the state level,” he stated.
He said the government has decided to deploy additional forces in the area to ensure that farming activities continue peacefully.
“We have assured them that we will deploy full force from tomorrow onwards to ensure that cultivation can proceed without any disturbance,” Dhar added.
The Deputy Chief Minister informed that discussions are also underway between authorities of Meghalaya and Assam regarding the situation.
“The deputy commissioners from both sides will hold discussions. They have already spoken in the past few days, but further discussions are needed,” he said.
Dhar further stated that Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma would take up the matter with the Assam Chief Minister once the Assam government appoints a new chairman for the regional committee on the border issue.
“There is already a presence there, but additional force is required. We are therefore deploying more personnel to ensure the safety and security of people living along the border,” he said.
Speaking after the meeting, Lapangap village Assistant Headman Samkhih Situng said the main demand of the villagers was protection for farmers.
“We had a meeting with Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar, and he assured us that from tomorrow onwards, the farmers of Lapangap village can continue with cultivation,” Situng said.
He alleged that villagers have repeatedly faced harassment while cultivating their land.
“We cultivate our land and carry out ploughing, but people from the Karbi side come at night to destroy our paddy fields,” he claimed.
Situng said the villagers were “95 percent satisfied” with the government’s assurance and hoped adequate security, including deployment of SF-10 personnel, would be provided.
He added that the Inspector General and Superintendent of Police of West Jaintia Hills were also present during the meeting and assured the delegation that security deployment would begin from Thursday.
