From Our Correspondent
NONGSTOIN: In a landmark meeting on Friday, residents of Langpih and several NGOs of the State have resolved to observe a ‘black flag day’ at the Civil Secretariat at Shillong soon besides firmly deciding to go ahead with the construction of the market complex that was earlier halted by the Assam Government.
The meeting was attended by Irene Hujon, president CSWO (I), Lamphrang Kharbani, president HANM (Central Body), Roni Rani, president HNPF, Teibor Dkhar, president Kynhun Peitngor and over 500 villagers.
They lambasted the Government for its negligence and inaction with regard to Langpih. They alleged that 40 years have passed since the State’s inception, but the border problems in the State still persist. They accused the Govt for using Langpih only as their vote bank. Normally at Langpih, meetings are usually interrupted by Assam Police personnel but because of additional Meghalaya troops deployed at Langpih, the meeting went off without any incident.
It may be noted that the Hima Raid Mynsaw had on Thursday submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma and Chief Secretary WMS Pariat requesting them to deploy two additional platoons at Langpih to secure the surrounding during the construction of the market complex to avoid any interference by Assam police personnel.
Assam police attempt to arrest Langpih headman
Eight Assam Police personnel from Boko along with 10 Garo tribesmen from Samarang made a failed attempt on Thursday to arrest Hindro Samakha, the headman of Langpih village even as they destroyed a notice board put up by the Dorbar Shnong in the village displaying the rules of the village.
The incident occurred at Nongma, about 10 km from Langpih, at about 2 PM when the Assam policemen forcibly entered Samakha’s house to take him into their custody.
Fortunately, Samakha had gone to Guwahati to attend the Chief Secretary level talks between the two states. When his wife informed the policemen of his whereabouts, they threatened to arrest her or one of their children if they fail to trace him.
Meanwhile, speaking to this scribe on Friday, Samakha informed that it was not the first time that such incident had occurred.
Samakha also informed that he had been verbally asked to appear before the Boko Police Station for reasons unknown to him, even as he stated that he would not do so until an official letter was sent to him.