Row over paddy cultivation escalates in disputed border area
Our Bureau
GUWAHATI/JOWAI/SHILLONG, Oct 9: One person was killed during a clash between two groups on the Assam-Meghalaya border at Tapat in West Karbi Anglong district on Thursday.
The deceased was identified as Orivel Timung. The number of the injured is yet to be ascertained.
According to reports, the clash broke out when both groups claimed ownership of a farming area in the disputed territory for harvesting paddy.
Multiple altercations reportedly broke out between residents of Lapangap village in Meghalaya and Tapat village in Assam in the afternoon, sources said, adding that sharp weapons were used during the clash that began as an argument and escalated into scuffles.
The incident prompted authorities to deploy additional security forces to the area. They fired blank shots and tear gas shells to control the situation.
Police and district authorities are monitoring the situation to restore normalcy amid heightened tension in the area.
The incident comes just three days after a meeting of the interstate border peace committee, which decided to suspend farming and development activities until peace was restored along the border.
According to a media report, Assam’s Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council chief executive member Tuliram Ronghang condemned the incident and announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased.
Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said following an understanding between the police forces of the two states, the residents were allowed to go to the area for harvesting paddy.
Everything was fine initially but a group of people from the Assam side came to the area leading to the scuffles. One person from the Tapat village in West Karbi Anglong succumbed to his injuries, Tynsong said narrating the incident.
He also said that the administration of both states clamped night curfew in the area to avoid any escalation of the situation. He was confident about improvement of the situation soon.
The Meghalaya government asked Sniawbhalang Dhar, Deputy Chief Minister and chairman of the West Jaintia Hills regional committee on border issue, to contact their Assam counterpart and visit the area jointly to urge people to maintain the status quo.
Tynsong refuted reports that there was no police presence in the area. He said had that been the case, there would have been bloodshed. He admitted that the personnel had not expected the situation since everything was going on smoothly initially.
He called upon people to maintain calm, respect law and order, and allow the police to take control of the area. This is not the first time that a violent incident has occurred in the area.
The second phase of border talks between Assam and Meghalaya continued to hang fire.
Tynsong said the Meghalaya government wanted to go ahead with the joint inspection but Assam was not free. Now that Assam is fully preparing for Assembly elections, both states are unable to carry out the joint inspection, he added.
It was learnt that Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his Meghalaya counterpart Conrad K. Sangma had spoken about the incident over the phone.
The Meghalaya government has filed an FIR in connection with the incident.
