Shillong, Oct 9: A 45-year-old man died after a scuffle between villagers in the disputed Lapangap village located along the Meghalaya-Assam border in West Jaintia Hills district.
Tension prevails on either side of the border since the last one week over harvesting of paddy, with both sides claiming that the land was theirs.
A senior Meghalaya police officer said that harvesting commenced today at Lapangap under the security of Meghalaya and Assam police personnel.
However multiple scuffles ensued between residents of Lapangap and Tapat village in Assam.
“In the melee, unfortunately one person from Karbi side is reported to be dead. There was no lethal force used by police from both sides. So it appears that death is due to violence between the villagers only,” the officer said.
The victim has been identified as Orivel Timung of Tapat village in Karbi Anglong.
He said since the place of occurrence falls under Meghalaya, a case has been registered at Nartiang Police Station under sections 103(1),117(3),117(4),119(1),121(1),121(2),189(1)-91(3),195(1),195(2),329(1),331(5),332,333 of the BNS.
Harvesting in the area has been completely stopped after the incident.
West Jaintia Hills District Magistrate Abhinav Kumar Singh imposed a night curfew under section 163 BNSS from 6 pm up to 10 am in the entire Assam-Meghalaya border areas.
“In view of the developing situation in Assam-Meghalaya border areas there is likelihood of breach of law and order which may endanger human lives and properties,” the order said.
Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said that both the state governments remained in touch at various levels, including the Chief Ministers, Chief Secretaries, and police officials. The Regional Committees formed to address the border issue have been asked to engage with each other and appeal to both sides to maintain peace.
The two states have been involved in a long-drawn out process to resolve their disputed border. While six areas of difference have already been tackled, another six remain. Lapangap falls under one of the six remaining disputed sectors along the Meghalaya-Assam border pending resolution.
Tynsong admitted that delays in holding joint inspections, partly due to Assam’s preparation for upcoming elections, may have contributed to the unrest.
