Assam police dismantle FKJGP signboard at Khanapara
KHANAPARA: In yet another tussle arising out of the border row between Assam and Meghalaya, Assam Police on Saturday uprooted a signboard erected by the FKJGP, North Khasi ills District at Khanapara in Ri Bhoi.
The cops from the neighbouring state were accompanied by CRPF men and a magistrate.
The incident occurred at Khanapara under Raid Them Marwet in the district soon after FKJGP members under the leadership of their president, Eddie G Kharbani erected the signboard which read “Welcome to Meghalaya” which was meant to act as a boundary pillar near the land gifted to the federation by the Syiem of the Raid Marwet.
Moments later, Assam police with CRPF rushed to the area accompanied by a magistrate who directed the FKJGP to remove the signboard. A heated argument followed and eventually the signboard was dismantled and seized by the Assam Police.
The Assam police and the CRPF allegedly resorted to pushing and lathi charged the FKJGP members. The Meghalaya police arrived at the scene only when the scuffle was almost over, the FKJGP members claimed.
Speaking to The Shillong Times, Kharbani slammed the Meghalaya police for its alleged inaction at a time when the cops from the neighbouring state were dismantling the signboard and harassing FKJGP members.
“The indifferent attitude of the State Government encouraged Assam to take advantage and encroach upon Meghalaya land,” the FKJGP leader alleged.
He added that the federation had decided to construct its office on the concerned land that was gifted to it. But considering the fact that the construction of the structure will take some time, it decided to erect a signboard for the time being.
“The initiative was taken to stake claim on the land which is rightfully belonged to the State,” Kharbani said even as he slammed the highhandedness on the part of the Assam authorities
“They claimed that the land belonged to Assam on the basis of the presence of an Assam police colony behind the land gifted to us by the Syiem of Raid Marwet. But the land they are talking about has belonged to one Kong Luhi Narleng for the last 40 years,” Kharbani claimed.
The FKJGP also threatened to re erect the signboard. “We will come with a larger force and the Meghalaya government will be responsible for any untoward incident thereafter,” Kharbani said.