Shillong, Oct 30: The Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) has rejected suggestions that it has failed to intervene in the latest chapter in the dispute over Lapangap, which Meghalaya claims is part of West Jaintia Hills.
The latest flashpoint occurred a few weeks ago when there was a clash between the two sides in the village while the residents of Lapangap were planning to harvest rice. A man from the Assam side was killed in the disturbance.
Later, an arrangement was reached that allowed the farmers from Meghalaya to harvest rice from the disputed zone. In all of this, however, some have perceived little to no intervention from the JHADC.
JHADC Chief Executive Member (CEM) Thombor Shiwat today pushed back on this claim.
The CEM said that before the violent incident in Lapangap, a team of the state government and the JHADC had visited the area to give the residents a sense of security.
Shiwat said that to accuse the council of not looking after the residents of Lapangap is inappropriate, as the JHADC has, from time to time, provided assistance to the vilalgers and sends people to help them in the harvesting of rice.
The CEM also said that in November 2023 the JHADC revived the Elaka Labang Nongphyllut after 45 years by appointing a Doloi and issuing him a sanad.
“People cannot accuse us for not looking after the border residents because we revived the traditional administrative unit of Labang Nongphyllut,” Shiwat said.
He also said that the JHADC has invited the CEM of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council to discuss the incidents in Lapangap on several occasions but the latter has refused and does not want to meet.
