SHILLONG, MAY 14: Meghalaya Director General of Police Idashisha Nongrang on Thursday said the state police has deployed an SF-10 platoon and two platoons of the Meghalaya Battalion to Lapangap village in West Jaintia Hills adding that the force is also considering setting up a police camp in the area after Assam put up its own camp amid ongoing tensions.
The announcement follows a mass protest by Lapangap villagers at the state secretariat on Wednesday, where they demanded security for farmers who alleged that crops were being uprooted at night by groups from the Karbi side.
Nongrang said the deployment was decided at a meeting chaired by Deputy Chief Minister, which the police department “seconded”.
“…when the problem first flared up, we had sent in our SF-10. They wanted the presence of SF-10 there,” she said.
“They (SF-10) had gone today and they should be reaching there by now as they had left early in the morning,” she added.
On the current strength, the DGP stated, “A platoon at the moment and we will see depending on the situation, we will see whether we need to put in more people or not.”
She confirmed that two platoons of Meghalaya Battalion personnel were also moved in earlier this week. “Additionally, the day before yesterday, we had already sent two platoons of Meghalaya Battalion people there.”
Nongrang stressed that further reinforcement would be determined by ground realities. “It will depend on the situation. When we are deploying for law and order it all depends on what happens, it is a developing situation, we would take assessment every now and then,” she said.
On the villagers’ demand for a police outpost, the DGP said Meghalaya would consider putting up a camp, noting that Assam had already done so.
“As you are aware Assam insisted that we maintain the status quo. So, while they have put up theirs, it is more of a camp. So, depending on the situation, we will also see from our side, we would put up a camp,” Nongrang said.
She pointed out that the Barato outpost, inaugurated last Saturday, is located 16 to 19 kilometers from Lapangap.
“Lapangap, just last Saturday we inaugurated the Barato, which is just about 16 or 19 kilometers away,” she said.
The DGP acknowledged the grievances raised during Wednesday’s protest.
“The people of Lapangap had come yesterday. There was a significant turnout. In fact, my officers on the ground were saying the majority of Lapangap village turnout enmasse yesterday,” she said.
“It was a very genuine problem for them. They have been saying that while the Assam side is not stopping the cultivation but what is happening, they go for the cultivation and in the evenings whatever they planted is uprooted during the night. That is the problem which they are really facing and they are saying that we haven’t had much support from us and we have been trying our best,” Nongrang added.
