NONGPOH/SHILLONG: Several pressure groups including the KSU, HYC and CSWO(I) slammed the Assam Police for “forcefully stopping the construction of a building” at Madan Umwang, Raid Nongtung under Block-II in Ri Bhoi District on November 24.
The construction of the building was being funded by the State Sericulture department and was meant for rearing eri worms.
Reacting to the incident, the KSU, eastern border area and the CSWO (I), came down heavily on the Assam police for its uncalled-for action. The pressure groups also slammed the State Government for its failure to resolve the border dispute even when “the Raid Nongtung had evidence that the village was under Meghalaya’s jurisdiction”.
President of HYC’s Raid Nongtung circle alleged that around nine trucks accompanied by police personnel from the neighboring state descended at the construction site and dismantled the under construction structure besides carrying back all the materials to Assam.
President of HYC’s Tyrso unit, D. K Ryngki on Thursday told reporters that they had time and again written to the state government expressing concerns over the border row but till date “not even a single minister has made an effort to inspect the area to find out the difficulties faced by the people”.
“If the state government can’t look after the welfare of its own people then it should provide arms and ammunition to the HYC members to fight for the rights of the people living in these disputed areas,” he said.
It may be mentioned that on November 11 the Assam government, had through the SDO (Civil) of Hamren Sub Division, ordered the Rangbah Shnong of Madan Umwang village to stop the construction of the building sponsored by the Sericulture department of Meghalaya and had even directed the in charge of Ulunkunji Outpost of Assam police to summon the Rangbah Shnong, Blikson Mukhim, to furnish all details pertaining to the construction of the building.
The matter was revealed to the Ri Bhoi District Administration by the village headmen who also sought security at the construction site and also for himself, but it is being alleged that the district administration failed to take prior initiative in this regard.
According to the HYC, the Assam police are now looking for the headman of Madan Umwang who is also a member of the KSU.
The HYC urged the KSU and other pressure groups to join hands with the HYC and work together in finding a solution to the current state of affairs.
