From Our Correspondent

 NONGSTOIN: Despite the fast-unto-death call by Pynskhem Nongshlong entering its fifth day on Wednesday, the State Government is still silent on the issue. Till Wednesday night, there was no attempt on the part of the government to end the fast.

Toughening their stand on the unresolved boundary dispute at Langpih and the Government’s indifference, the Western People Movement (WPM) has called a two-night road blockade from Friday. The night road blockade will be effective in West Khasi Hills district from 7 pm till 5 am the next day.

Announcing the agitation, WPM president Johny Syiemlieh said that Nongshlong’s call for a fast unto death has crossed five days but there has been no response from the Government as yet.

The WPM also lambasted the government for not being able to solve the problems of the border people at Langpih, saying, “We strongly condemn the State Government for not doing anything about the fast.”

He also threatened to organise stronger agitation if the State Government does not take any step to solve the border issue.

Meanwhile, the People’s Movement has taken strong exception to the Government’s indifference to resolve the problems faced by the people living in the border areas due to continuous encroachment, harassment and atrocities committed by the Assam police personnel.

The peoples’ Movement on Wednesday submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma demanding immediate suspension of any kind of dialogue with the Assam Government and engaging itself with the Union Government only. The Movement also asked the State Government to ensure protection and security to the local villagers in the border areas and proper demarcation of the inter-State boundary.

The Movement has, meanwhile, expressed apprehension that if anything happens to the volunteers who are participating in the fast unto death, the situation might go out of control. The Movement also warned of intensified agitation if the issue is not addressed imminently.

Meanwhile, on the fifth day of the fast unto death at Langpih on Wednesday, two more agitators had to be carried away in an ambulance to Civil Hospital Nongstoin from where they were referred to the Shillong Civil Hospital.

85-year-old Ninghain Samakha from Langpih, who has been fasting since day one of the agitation, showed signs of severe dehydration with a low pulse count. Despite his adamancy to continue with the fat, fellow protesters forcefully sent him for treatment.

73-year-old Markasing Kharbani, also from Langpih, too began suffering from dehydration after which he was also forcefully sent for treatment.

The two agitators were visibly unhappy that they had to leave the fast site, but fellow agitators, while speaking to this scribe, said that it would be too risky for these ‘brave old men’ to continue the fast.

Another agitator, Ephrim K Desaw, who was admitted at Nongstoin Civil Hospital, is recovering but his health is yet to stabilize, doctors informed.

All the three agitators would be sent to Shillong Civil Hospital for further treatment.

Despite being admitted at the hospital, the three agitators expressed their desire to return back to the fast site at Langpih. None of them had eaten a single morsel of food since the fast began on Saturday last.