SHILLONG, MAY 14: The Meghalaya government will deploy adequate forces from Thursday to ensure farmers of Lapangap village can carry out cultivation without disturbance, Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar assured on Wednesday after hundreds of villagers marched to the Secretariat demanding security following alleged harassment from the Karbi side.
“We had a very fruitful meeting. I have assured them that the government will do its utmost to protect our people and ensure that peace is maintained as usual,” Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar said after chairing the meeting.
The protest was led by the Dorbar Shnong of Lapangap village and supported by several NGOs.
“The people of Lapangap village and some of the NGOs met me regarding this issue. Over the past few days, there have been incidents. It is the season for farmers to begin cultivation, but there have been disturbances from the Karbi side,” the Deputy Chief Minister said.
He clarified that the discussion did not pertain to the interstate boundary. “Today’s discussion was not about the border issue. We discussed their livelihood in Lapangap village…. The border issue is a matter to be taken up at the state level,” Dhar said.
“They (delegation) came to request intervention as some Karbi individuals have been disturbing them, and we have assured them that we will deploy full force from tomorrow onwards to ensure that cultivation can proceed without any disturbance,” he added.
On whether the State is raising the matter with Assam, Dhar said, “Obviously, we have discussed it. The deputy commissioners from both sides will hold discussions — they have already spoken in the past few days — but further discussions are needed. Since Assam has formed a new government, our Chief Minister has told me that he will take up this issue with the Assam Chief Minister.”
“Because this area lies along the border, we are waiting for the Assam government to appoint the new chairman of the regional committee from their side. Once that is done, we will decide and meet our counterparts at an appropriate time,” he said.
“We have assured the Lapangap delegation that sufficient force will be provided so that their activities are not disrupted,” Dhar stated.
“There is already a presence there, but additional force is required. We are therefore deploying more personnel to ensure the safety and security of people living along the border. We will deploy as needed,” he added.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Lapangap village Assistant Headman Samkhih Situng said the village’s primary demand was “to give full protection to the farmers of Lapangap village.”
“We had a meeting with Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar, and he assured us that from tomorrow onwards, the farmers of Lapangap village can continue with cultivation,” Situng said.
“As we stated in the meeting, if the government’s assurance is not implemented, we will take further steps to ensure protection for our farmers while they carry out cultivation,” he added.
Describing the harassment faced by villagers, Situng said, “We face harassment constantly. We cultivate our land and carry out ploughing, but people from the Karbi side come at night to destroy our paddy fields. That is the harassment we have endured.”
“We are not 100 percent, but 95 percent satisfied with the government’s decision. We hope the government will take the Lapangap issue very seriously and provide adequate security so that we can carry out cultivation freely. We want full deployment of forces, including SF-10,” he said.
“The Inspector General and Superintendent of Police of West Jaintia Hills were also present at the meeting, and they assured us that from tomorrow onwards, full force will be deployed to provide security and protection to Lapangap farmers,” Situng added.
