The Khasi Students Union (KSU) on Wednesday asked the State government to provide adequate security to the people especially the farmers of Lapangap village in West Jaintia Hills after they were attacked by the Karbi people from Assam side.
In a statement, 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 people had on Tuesday allegedly attacked the Khasi-pnar farmers with catapults and bows and arrows while they were working in their paddy fields.
Thabah informed that the members of the KSU West Jaintia Hills District Unit have rushed to Lapangap to extend full support to the Khasi-pnar villagers.
He said since time immemorial, it was the practice of the Khasi-pnar people to carry out agricultural activities at the outskirts of the village. Instead, the Karbi people 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.
“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 said.
The KSU general secretary also asked 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 falls within the Meghalaya territory and the KAAC and government of Assam cannot just make claim over them,” Thabah said.