From Our Correspondent
SABUDA: Embittered by the atrocities at the hands of the Assam government from time to time and with the latest show of strength forcibly construction of entrance gate and SBI Bank’s building at Sabuda, in Ri Bhoi district, women from twelve villages under the disputed Block-II areas under the banner of the Civil Society Women’s Organization (Irene Hujon) got ready on Wednesday to take on the Assam Government for its repeated interference inside Meghalaya territory, but were later pacified by their central body leaders and the KSU North Khasi Hills district leaders.
The Assam government had laid the foundation stone for the construction of the SBI Sabuda Branch on the premise of the Sabuda Outpost (Assam) in January this year while the construction of an ‘entrance gate’ to be enshrined as ‘Welcome to Karbi Anglong’ began from March 6 this year, after the earlier signboard was dismantled by KSU members three years back.
In order to register a protest against the forcible construction of the entrance gate and the SBI bank’s building, the CSWO (Hujon) Sabuda Circle and KSU North Khasi Hills district organized a meeting at the residence of Sabuda Rangbah Shnong, B Sohtun, on Wednesday afternoon.
The Ri Bhoi district administration deployed R Kharbihkhiew, Magistrate, and senior police officials PS Marwein and EM Marwein with a strong police contingent at the venue of the meeting to take care of any law and order situation.
Venting out her frustration and anger at the Assam government, CSWO (Hujon) Sabuda Circle president Ester Lyngshiang said, “The women of these villages are fed up of the atrocities; thus we have decided that today, come what may, we will go and dismantle the ongoing construction of the entrance gate and the bank’s buildings at Sabuda to register our protest against the Assam government. We have come fully prepared with hammers.”
Pacifying Lyngshiang, the Rangbah Shnong said they should submit a representation to the Meghalaya Government demanding immediate solution to the long-pending border dispute since Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma had assured them in their meeting last year that resolution of the border dispute would be his top-most priority if he returned to power.
Sohtun also spoke about the sufferings they have to endure because of the hefty taxes forcibly levied by the Assam government for transportation of their agricultural produces.
Exhorting Deputy Commissioner Akash Deep to take up matter with the higher ups, KSU North Khasi Hills District president Ferdinand Kharkamni said that as head of the district he is responsible for addressing the grievances of the people of the district to the State Government.
CSWO president (Hujon) lamented that Assam continued to carry on with its activities but “our State Government shies away from its responsibility under the shadow of the ‘status quo’ as it is non committal towards solving the border disputes.
The meeting resolved to submit an objection to the Ri Bhoi Deputy Commissioner on the construction of the entrance gate and the bank’s building by Assam and also to demand immediate stoppage to the construction works. The CSWO (Hujon) and the KSU North Khasi Hills district unit would submit a memorandum to KHADC CEM PN Syiem condemning the assault of the two villagers at Madan Umwang by miscreants last year.
Meanwhile, it was learnt that the Assam Police summoned Sabuda Rangbah Shnong B Sohtun a few hours after the meeting, but he was not present in his residence when they came looking for him. Sohtun and his family members were reportedly worried about their safety fearing reaction from the Assam side.
However, further details could not be obtained due to network problems.