Shillong, Sep 27: The Khasi Students Union (KSU) wanted the state government to provide security to the farmers of Lapangap village in West Jaintia Hills following the attack by the Karbi residents from Assam.
In response, the government spokesperson and cabinet minister Paul Lyngdoh said the chief ministers of both the states will meet soon to address these concerns.
The KSU general secretary Donald V Thabah said, “We urge the Meghalaya government to provide adequate protection to the people especially the farmers during this harvesting time.”
The Karbi residents attacked the Khasi-pnar farmers with catapults, bows and arrows while they were working in their paddy fields.
The members of the KSU West Jaintia Hills unit visited Lapangap to support the Khasi-pnar villagers.
He said the Khasi-pnar people used to carry out agricultural activities on the outskirts of the village. “The Karbi residents are taking advantage of this by claiming that paddy fields of the Khasi-pnar people fall within the Assam territory. Such problems arise only when it is time for harvesting” he said.
“Therefore, we will extend our full support to the Khasi-pnar people of Lapangap and other villages along the inter-state border with Assam. We will also ensure that not an inch of our land will go to Assam,” Thabah asserted
The KSU wanted the people of Karbi and the authorities of the Assam government to refrain from harassing the Khasi-pnar farmers. “The KSU does not want any clash to erupt among the two communities but it also cannot be just a mere spectator of the atrocities meted out to its people from time to time,” he said.
“Lapangap, Mukroh, Khanduli, Langpih, Sabuda, Umwang, Moolber, Moojem, Psiar, Khatkasla and other Khasi villages fall within the Meghalaya territory and the KAAC and government of Assam cannot just make claim over them,” Thabah said.
