NONGPOH, Dec 16: In another incident of alleged intrusion into developmental works at the interstate border areas, a platoon of Assam Police reportedly interrupted the construction work of an ICDS building at Madan Umwang in Ri Bhoi on Tuesday.
The police personnel conducted an inspection at the ongoing construction site and forcefully stopped the ongoing work, sources said.
When contacted, headman of Madan Umwang, Spilling Marboh, lamented that such incidents have been happening in border villages from time to time due to the uncalled-for interference from the Assam Government. “The Assam Police threatened to arrive with heavy machineries and vandalise the ICDS building if we continued the construction work,” the headman informed, while adding that he had informed the Ri Bhoi Superintendent of Police as well as the BDO of Umsning, who is also the Border Magistrate of Ri Bhoi.
Marboh further informed that police from Mawlasnai Outpost had visited the village and conducted an inquiry into the alleged interference from Assam Police.
Meanwhile, reacting to this incident, president of the Synjuk ki Rangbah Shnong Border Area (SRSBA), B Sohtun, echoed Marboh, stating that such incidents have been happening from time to time.
Most of the developmental works initiated by the Meghalaya Government have faced many hurdles in the border areas due to the intrusion of Assam Government, Sohtun said.
These activities have not only brought down the hopes of the border-dwellers but have also affected the peace and tranquillity, causing them to live in fear, he added.
The Synjuk president and village headman have urged the Meghalaya Government and Ri Bhoi district administration to take steps in resolving the issue, while also demanding that police personnel be stationed in the areas to allay people’s fears and also to ensure that the ICDS building construction work is completed.
The building is being constructed under the ICDS scheme in convergence with the MGNREGS and is worth Rs 7 lakh.