Our Bureau
SHILLONG/TURA, Oct 10: In the wake of a recent clash at Lapangap village in West Jaintia Hills district that led to the death of one individual and left another injured, the Jaintia Students’ Union (JSU) has urged the regional committees of both Meghalaya and Assam to expedite the ongoing peace and border talks.
Stressing the need to prevent a recurrence of violent incidents along the interstate boundary, the union reminded that the regional committees of Meghalaya and Assam are still engaged in discussions to resolve areas of difference between the two states. It, therefore, appealed to both committees to expedite their deliberations, so that permanent peace and harmony can be achieved along the interstate boundary.
The JSU further called for stronger cooperation between the two state governments and urged them to prioritise sustained peace-building measures in border villages.
It said that only through dialogue, coordination and mutual respect among the communities on both sides can trust be restored and the recurring cycle of violence be brought to an end.
The JSU also condemned the intrusion by certain Karbi individuals disrupting the paddy harvesting activities of Pnar residents, calling it a deliberate act that shattered the peace and disrupted the livelihood of local farmers during their harvest season.
The organisation pointed out that even with the close coordination and patrols conducted by both the Meghalaya and Assam Police, such incidents of encroachment and confrontation by Karbi individuals continue to occur, creating tension among border residents.
At the same time, the JSU expressed sorrow over the death of members of the Karbi community in the incident, describing the loss of lives as tragic and deeply regrettable.
It hoped that both sides would work towards ensuring that similar tragedies are avoided in the future through restraint and understanding.
Meanwhile, the North East Indigenous People’s Association (NEIPA) has condemned the incident of violence on the Meghalaya-Assam border, where a border resident was killed while another was injured in clashes between two groups of people from opposite sides of the border.
According to the association, while one person, viz. Oriwel Timung (44), a resident of Tapat village, was killed during clashes, while another, Stenwel Timung, sustained injuries.
“We strongly condemn the violent incident that resulted in the loss of life along the Meghalaya-Assam border. We urge the authorities to take immediate action to restore peace and resolve the situation in the area,” its general secretary Bostone M Sangma said.
