SHILLONG, June 16: The memorandum of understanding signed by Meghalaya and Assam on March 29, 2022, has done little to palliate the tension among residents in certain parts of the interstate border and with a sense of insecurity permeating among the border populace due to the rampant act of transgression by Assam, the state police has been asked to remain on their feet for timely action against any act of muscle-flexing in the border area by the neighbouring state.
“The Police department has always responded swiftly to any incident that has occurred in the border or at least in areas which we know are within Meghalaya,” Home Minister Lahkmen Rymbui said.
Rymbui’s statement is seen as timely considering the latest instance of infraction by Assam which came to light after members of the Hynniewtrep Border Dispute Redressal Forum alleged that Karbi people have been threatening the Khasi-Pnar residents of Block-I area to leave the area since they had refused to vote in the election to the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC).
On June 7, the headman of Gizang Salbari, a disputed village along the interstate border with Assam, and five other village leaders were arrested by Assam Police on charges of destroying property. The complaint had been lodged by a school teacher from Umshiak, West Khasi Hills, Becline G Sangma.
Prior to that, a video purportedly showing Assam Police personnel resorting to baton-charge against residents of Malang Huhapara (Salbari) village in Meghalaya’s West Khasi Hills district had gone viral prompting Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma to direct police to investigate the incident. He had also taken up the matter with his Assam counterpart who had promised swift action.
