MAWKYRWAT: The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) has accused the Border Security Force (BSF) of indiscriminately cutting down betel nut trees belonging to residents of Nongtrai village and using them to build a bridge to cross the Phlangkaruh river in Mawsynram Block, East Khasi Hills.
KSU Nongtrai president Wanbok Reenborne said the villagers found out about the felling of the betel nut trees. “These villagers have spent years to grow many of these trees but the BSF is cutting them to make a temporary bridge over the Phlangkaruh,” Reenborne said, adding that this “irresponsible act” has destroyed the villagers’ hard work.
The KSU also accused the paramilitary force of helping Bangladeshis to cross over to India and destroy the betel nut trees. “They are the reasons that the Bangladeshi are being able to cross over,” Reenborne said.
On the other hand, the South West Khasi Hills Unit of the KSU has condemned the district administration for remaining silent about the demand to withdraw all letters for acquiring land for the battalion headquarters in Mawkyrwat.
“We had given the district administration one week to withdraw all the letters but till now they kept silent on the issue,” Reenborne, who was an Executive Member of KSU South West Khasi Hills Unit, said.
“We are concerned about the silence of the Deputy Commissioner. Soon we will have a meeting and stern action will be taken till the office withdraws all the letters,” Reedborne said, adding that the KSU requested all the land owners not to sell their land to BSF “because we do not need soldiers in Mawkyrwat area but only along the border with Bangladesh”.
