From Our Correspondent
NONGSTOIN: A day after two Khasi labourers were arrested by Assam Police at Nongdron village near Langpih, reliable sources said that the duo were taken into custody for allegedly encroaching upon and destroying forest cover at Gizang Reserve Forest of Assam.
Part of the reserve forest falls under the disputed territory between Meghalaya and Assam.
M Raman, officer in charge of Boko Police Station said that the two persons were arrested under (Boko PS No 194/ 2013 under Section 120 (B)/447/379/34 IPC r/w) the Assam Forest Act and were shifted to Central Jail at Guwahati.
The two labourers, Skendro Mawnai and Twendro Mawnai, were apprehended when they were working in the fields of one Joe L Mawnai of Upper New Nongstoin.
Mawnai informed that he had bought the 45,000 square metres of land at Nongdron from the headman of Langpih, Swing Samakha in 2009.
Meanwhile, villagers from Langpih and Nongdron have alleged that the Assam police were instigated by some of the Nepali residents of the area to make the arrest.
“They informed the Assam police that the two persons were encroaching into land that was disputed between the two neighbouring states. Accordingly, police personnel from Boko Police Station in Assam came to the area and arrested them,” one of the villagers from Nongdron said.
The villagers also claimed that the two persons, Skendro and Twendro had been working in the fields for about a month now and were not involved in mass clearing of forest as alleged by authorities from the neighbouring state.
Spot inspection made by MLA KP Pangniang found that the two labourers were engaged in planting food crops when the Magistrate and Boko Police arrested them.
Meanwhile, the FKJGP West Khasi Hills Unit led by its president Palwanbor Syiem visited the Deputy Commissioner West Khasi Hills S Kharlyngdoh. Palwanbor and his team however were disappointed as the DC allegedly ‘evaded’ them.
KSU, West Khasi Hills president John Nongsiang also condemned the arrest of the two labourers. The KSU also pointed out that in April this year, two women from Langpih were assaulted by Nepalese people at Umwali and despite assurances from the government the persons involved in the assault are still at large.
It may be mentioned that on April 17 when HSPDP legislator Ardent Basaiawmoit questioned the safety of the border people, Home Minister Roshan Warjri had assured that “all possible efforts would be made to nab the culprit involved in the assault of the two women.”
Two months later, two innocent people have again fallen victim to the alleged high-handedness of the Assam police.