Union wants an end to atrocities on Khasis in Block II by Assam officials
NONGPOH: Anguished by frequent atrocities meted out to the Khasi people residing in the disputed areas of Block-II in the form of assault and extortion demands both from outlawed groups and uniformed men from Assam the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) North Khasi Hills District on Friday issued a four-day ultimatum to the State government to come out with a solution to the perennial dilemma of the people in the border areas or face strong agitation.
The KSU district unit drew special reference to the demand of fifty per cent share on production of broomstick from the residents of Umsder Village by staff of the Assam forest department. The ultimatum was the outcome of a meeting called by the KSU NKHD and attended by leaders from KSU Raid Nongtung Circle and KSU Eastern Border Areas.
Making it clear that the Union would not be impressed by mere talks, its president, F Kharkamni, warned that the Union would resort to drastic agitations to pierce the deaf ears of the people at the helms of affairs to act on their demands and reach out to the people living in the disputed border areas. The Union also targeted the Ri Bhoi Police accusing them of burying their heads in the sand like ostriches instead of going for spot inspection to Umsder despite receiving information about the demands made by uniformed men from the Assam side.
Kharkamni also condemned the Assam officials for threatening the local residents of Umsder and called them as anti-Indian.
Meanwhile, leaders of the KSU Eastern Border Areas and Raid Nongtung Circle said that they had gone for spot inspection at Umsder and verified that the 50 per cent demand made by the Assam Forest personnel was true.
KSU Eastern Border Areas president Banjop Maring informed that they met local Rangbah Shnong Herman Lyndoh and Village Secretary Lamphrang Masynting who informed them that five people from Assam dressed in police uniform had come to Umsder village on Jan 13 and demanded 50 per cent share on broomsticks produced by the villagers.
The village elders also informed that the Assam Forest personnel asked the villagers to quit Umsder by the end of this year since they had refused to enroll for EPIC under Assam.
