SHILLONG : The Meghalaya government has assured full security deployment for farmers of Lapangap village from Thursday onwards following a massive march to the Secretariat by villagers and pressure groups demanding protection amid alleged harassment from the Karbi side.
Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar said the government would strengthen security arrangements to ensure that cultivation activities continue peacefully without disturbance.
“The people of Lapangap village and some NGOs met me regarding the issue. It is cultivation season now, but there have been disturbances from the Karbi side,” Dhar told reporters after the meeting.
He described the discussion as fruitful and assured that the government would do everything possible to protect the people and maintain peace in the area.
Dhar clarified that the matter discussed on Wednesday was related to the livelihood of farmers and not directly linked to the interstate border dispute.
“Today is not about the border issue. We discussed the livelihood of the people of Lapangap village who have been cultivating their paddy fields in the area for years. The border issue is a separate state-level subject,” he said.
He stated that villagers complained of harassment by people from the Karbi side while carrying out cultivation activities, prompting the government to promise additional deployment of forces from Thursday.
“We have assured them that we will provide full force from tomorrow onwards to ensure cultivation is done without any disturbances,” Dhar said.
On coordination with Assam, the Deputy Chief Minister said discussions are continuing between officials of both states. He added that Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma is expected to discuss the matter with the Assam Chief Minister after the appointment of the new chairman of the regional committee on the Assam side.
Dhar confirmed that more security personnel would be deployed depending on the situation.
“It is already there but more force is needed. We are deploying additional forces to ensure the safety and security of people living in the border areas,” he stated.
Assistant Headman of Lapangap village Samkhih Situng said the villagers’ main demand was proper security for farmers.
“Our first demand was full protection for the farmers of Lapangap village,” he said, adding that the Deputy Chief Minister assured them cultivation could continue from Thursday onwards without fear.
Situng warned that villagers may take further steps if the government fails to fulfil its assurance.
“We face harassment regularly. We cultivate our land and during the night people from the Karbi side come and destroy our paddy fields,” he alleged.
While expressing partial satisfaction with the government’s response, Situng urged authorities to take the issue seriously and ensure adequate deployment of forces, including SF-10 personnel.
He also said senior police officials, including the IG and Superintendent of Police of West Jaintia Hills, assured the delegation that sufficient security personnel would be deployed from Thursday to protect farmers and maintain peace in the area.