From Our Correspondent
JOWAI: Tension gripped Khanduli – a village on the Meghalaya-Assam border in Jaintia Hills district – on Wednesday when a group of ASEB (Assam State Electricity Board) officials along with a Magistrate from Hamren Sub-Division of Karbi-Anglong district escorted by armed personnel of Assam Battalion allegedly trespassed into the village and erected as many 12 electric posts in the area.
Residents of Khanduli village and other neighbouring villagers protested and attempted to prevent the work, but despite strong protest from the villagers and the village dorbar, the Assam officials continued to erect the electric posts.
“ASEB officials along with construction labourers and a Magistrate escorted by hundreds of fully armed Assam Battalion personnel came to the village and erected many electric posts despite strong protest by villagers,” village secretary I Dkhar informed.
“As the area is purely under Meghalaya erection of the electric posts by Assam government cannot be accepted,” one of the village elders said.
After being informed of the forcible intrusion, a team of Jowai Police led by Officer in charge, G Wahlang, who is also the Circle Inspector, along with SI W Suting rushed to the spot to take stock of the situation. However, the Assam officials had already left the village by the time the Jowai Police reached the spot.
“The Magistrate and other officials had already left except for the Battalion personnel and labourers who were still present in the village,” a police officer said.
Meanwhile, concerned residents of the border villages have urged the State Government to take the matter seriously to prevent the situation from worsening.