By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Sep 28: “Planting of the right saplings at the wrong place” is said to be the cause behind the cross-border skirmish that occurred at Lapangap village in West Jaintia Hills that fuelled tension for two long days.
A mutual decision taken by the district administrations of West Jaintia Hills and West Karbi Anglong to uproot the saplings from the “area of contention” and replant it somewhere else seems to have quelled the brewing storm for now.
The mutual decision was taken during a meeting on Thursday attended by West Karbi Anglong DC Krishna Baruah and police chief, I Barua along with West Jaintia Hills Deputy Commissioner BS Sohliya, Superintendent of Police C Syrti, JHADC member Barato A Shadap, and Lapangap Waheh Chnong (headman) D Lyngdoh.
According to Sohliya, the Karbi people and the Assam administration have assured their full cooperation and allowed the Khasi-Pnar people to harvest the paddy from their fields but on the condition that the saplings planted earlier in a “contentious area” be removed first.
He said the saplings will be replanted on Friday in a dispute-free area.
He said Assam Police has also assured to provide full security to the Khasi-Pnar farmers during the harvesting period.
The DC also stated that the situation is calm and peaceful and the district administration is monitoring the situation.