From Our Correspondent
NONGPOH: People living in the disputed areas of Block II continue to be mere scapegoats at the hands of Assam Government while the State Government continues to remain a mute spectator to the misdeeds committed against its own people.
The villagers who have been suffering for long have endless tales of atrocities at the hands of the Assam government but so far have found no ‘authoritative ears’ to listen to their sorry plight.
This scribe who visited the Block II areas and interacted with the local residents learnt that they were being forced to pay extortion money by the Karbi Anglong Autonomous District Council (KAADC), Assam and the Forest Check Gate of Assam Government who levy heavy taxes for vehicles loaded with brooms or other agriculture products passing through the toll gate at Sabuda (Block II) inside Meghalaya territory.
One villager informed that the KAADC and the Assam Forest check gate officials force them to pay Rs 6000 for each jeep, Rs 8000 for pick-up vans and Rs 10,000 from each 407 truck that passes through the check gate despite the same being inside Meghalaya. Those who carry agriculture produces on their back are also forced to pay money, the villagers revealed.
The latest instance of atrocity against the villagers was the recent destruction of an approach road from Jatalong to Umjaknieh by the Assam Battalion on Wednesday last.
The incident embittered the people of the village who stormed the Sabuda Police Outpost of the Assam Battalion in anger.
However, the situation was brought under control due to the timely reaction of the Ri-Bhoi District Administration which deployed a Magistrate, Deputy Superintendent of Police and a strong police team in the area to prevent any outbreak of the law and order.
The Assam Government allegedly destroyed the approach road since villagers of Jatalong and Umjaknieh were using the road for transportation of their agriculture products to escape making payments at the Sabuda check gate.
Meanwhile, on Monday, the Khasi Students’ Union North Khasi Hills District unit led by central body vice president Fredrick Kharmawphlang, NKH president Ferdynald Kharkamni and secretary Vincent Makri along with other members and in collaboration with the villagers of Sabuda, Madan Umwang, Umthlieh, Mawlasnai, Khyndewsaw and Ummat led by Synjuk Ki Rangbah Shnong (Raid Nongtung) B Sohtun repaired the approach road to ease the transportation of agriculture products of the area.
Later, addressing the gathering Kharmawphlang expressed grave concern over the rising atrocities by the Assam Government and also denounced the action of the Assam Police.
“It is a matter of concern that our people in the disputed areas are facing these kinds of hardships in their daily life, but the bigger concern is that our own State Government has failed to take initiative on these problems.
“The Assam Government has failed to maintain the Status Quo agreed upon by the two states, while the Meghalaya Government has failed to take remedial action,” Kharmawphlang added.
NKHD president Ferdynald Kharkamni said, “The KSU along with the Synjuk Ki Rangbah Shnong, Raid Nongtung, and the villagers of Block II will pressurize the new government to take priority in resolving the border issues and address the problems being faced by the people of the State.”