NONGSTOIN: The West Khasi Hills police have downplayed the border dispute and reports of villagers fleeing homes in fear of Assam police.
A police officer told journalists on Wednesday that media reports about 600 villagers fleeing their homes at Malangkona in the district were “exaggerated” and that “such news will create panic among people in other disputed areas”.
The villagers reportedly escaped after the Assam police threatened to arrest them without reason.
The officer said district SP D Kharwanlang had visited Malangkona with the home minister. He had also deployed police personnel there on September 9 and a police camp was set up in the area. “Nothing has happened till date because the Assam police have stopped interfering. Peace has been restored,” he added.
Police said minor conflict between villagers along the Assam-Meghalaya border was happening every time and “it is not a major issue”.
When asked about Malangkona villagers alleging that Assam police threatened to arrest them, the police officer denied the “false” charges saying only 6-7 persons have cases in Assam and the police there were trying to arrest only those accused. “But they have created a hoax just to escape from Assam police”.
“Those who have cases in Assam had sought the help of West Khasi Hills police but the latter refused because it was under the Assam Police. The Meghalaya police had requested them to surrender. So only the 6-7 persons fled the village and not 600 villagers as reported in local papers,” the police officer explained.
Regarding the photo that appeared in newspapers, he said it was during the visit of Rambrai Jyrngam MLA Kimfa Sidney Marbaniang. “People always gather around (leaders) for meeting and it is similar during the visit of SP or any government officials,” he added.
