SHILLONG, June 13: A fresh case of muscle-flexing by Assam has come to light with members of the Hynniewtrep Border Dispute Redressal Forum on Monday alleging 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 recently-held election to the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC).
Speaking to reporters here on Monday, HBDRF chairman Chandame Sungoh said the Khasi-Pnar residents had refused to vote in the KAAC election since the council had not initiated any developmental schemes or programmes for them in the past many years. Sungoh also claimed that he had information that the Karbi people will hold a meeting to take a call on evicting the Khasi-Pnar population from the area.
He recalled that Meghalaya citizens had faced such threats even in the past like in 1971-1972, 2003 and as recently as 2015.
He said that the Karbi population was attempting to communalise the matter. “I am sure there are legal provisions to penalise the Khasi-Pnar population for not taking part in the election,” Sungoh said.
