Shillong, Sept 21: The UDP MLA from Mookaiaw, Nujorki Sugnoh has raised concern over the report of a new Karbi militant group called United People’s Front of Karbi Longri (UPFKL) which has created “fear psychosis” among the Khasi-Pnar inhabitants residing along the disputed area of Block I.
While raising a call attention motion on the issue in the Assembly on Thursday, Sungoh said that as per the media report, the inhabitants of Elaka Labang-Nongpyhllut in Block I have expressed their deep concern and fear due to the surfacing of this new militant outfit.
He further the media report also mentioned that the Assam Police arrested two members of the militant group which were identified as Sanjay Ingtih and Rajesh Phangcho from Jrikyndeng village in the disputed Block-I
Quoting the media report, he said that the police seized two pistols, hand grenades and many incriminating demand notes from their possession.
Stating that even though the police did not reveal the name on this demand note, the UDP MLA from Mookaiaw stated that some sources revealed that they were meant to serve the Khasi-Pnar community.
According to him, it was further revealed that the new outfit has recruited more than 500 members and the main objective or the formation of this new outfit is to terrorize and instill fear amongst the Khasi-Pnar inhabitants in Block I area.
“Let us not forget the historical facts that are present in the record of both the State that tells us how Khasi-Pnar inhabitant were made refugees in the year 2003 when around 5000 of them have to flee from their ancestral villages and seek refuse in Sahsniang village,” Sungoh said.
He further observed that this periodical plan of the Karbi to instill fear among the Khas-Pnar inhabitant is one of the old strategies which they have been adopting to capture their rightful land which today has been classified as disputed areas in the modus operandi of the Karbi.
“I hope the government will take note of this matter to give the Khasi-Pnar inhabitants the strength and resilience to live this subdued life and with very high anticipation that the State leaders will not let them down,” the Mookaiaw UDP MLA said.
In his reply, Chief Minister, Conrad K. Sangma said that they are yet to receive any intelligence inputs and any official complaints about the formation of the new Karbi militant outfit.
“And I have stated the reports have not come to us from the state government side. We are relying on a newspaper article that has come out where it has also been mentioned that two people were arrested,” Sangma said.
Chief Minister however assured that they were not taking anything lightly and would be pursuing the matter seriously.
“We will also ensure that sufficient manpower is there for the protection and safety of our people,” he added.