Death threat to headman by Karbi militant group
NONGPOH: Agitated by the elimination threat issued by the Karbi People’s Liberation Tiger (KPLT) to Umtlieh Rangbah Shnong P Masharing, the KSU North Khasi Hills District has threatened to avenge on Karbi people living in the state if the KPLT does not stop torturing the Khasi people living in Block-II.
NONGPOH: The KSU North Khasi Hills District Unit on Thursday, threatened retaliation against a death threat issued by the Karbi People Liberation Tiger (KPLT) based in Assam to Umtlieh Rangbah Shnong Proches Masharing, the traditional head of one of the villages under the disputed areas of Block-II.
The issue in question dates back to March last when the KPLT, on a plain paper, had made an extortion demand to the people of Umtlieh asking them to pay Rs. 2000 per household through former Umtlieh Rangbah Shnong Wil Masharing. However, the villagers refused to pay any heed to the extortion demand.
After the present incumbent (Proches Masharing) took over as Rangbah Shnong recently, the extortion demand was renewed by KPLT through mobile phone asking the villagers to pay Rs. 2000 per family to the KPLT and also threatened to eliminate the Rangbah Shnong holding him responsible for non-payment of the extortion amount.
According to police sources, two mobile phone numbers were used by the militants to threaten the Rangbah Shnong.
The Synjuk Ki Rangbah Shnong Raid Nongtung (SRSRN) led by its president and Sabuda Rangbah Shnong B Sohtun accompanied by P Masharing and others, and the KSU under the leadership of its unit president F Kharkamni took up the matter with Ri Bhoi Additional Deputy Commissioner P.S. Kharkongor and submitted a letter to him in the absence of Deputy Commissioner Pooja Pandey, on Thursday afternoon.
The letter read, “The Synjuk Ki Rangbah Shnong Raid Nongtung vehemently condemns the threat to one of its members and urges the State Government machinery to fulfill its constitutional obligations towards the citizens of the State by taking necessary and suitable measures to ensure security to the life and the property of Proches Masharing and also his family members.”
Talking to The Shillong Times, Kharkamni said they demanded setting up of a police outpost at Umtlieh or Madan Umwang to provide security to the people and also warned of backlash against the Karbi people if the KPLT did not refrain from torturing the Khasi people.
Meanwhile, Addl. Deputy Commission Kharkongor informed that they were trying to establish peace and harmony along the disputed areas in association with their counterparts in Karbi Anglong District of Assam. He further informed that the matter would be taken up with the government so that additional forces may be deployed at Mawlasnai Outpost to prevent any escalation of the tension prevailing in the border areas.
The KSU leaders and the village leaders from Block-II also met Deputy Superintendent of Police, B.J. Laloo, and sought his intervention for ensuring security to Proches Masharing.
The KSU leaders are also slated to meet Home Minister Roshan Warjri in this connection.