Groups of people from Karbi Anglong allegedly destroyed hundreds of trees along the disputed Assam-Meghalaya border in Khanduli village.
The dorbar shnong of Khanduli said a large area was cleared by the Karbis and members of the Karbi Student Association West Karbi Anglong in the presence of Assam police.
Waheh Shnong Yoshida Nongspung today said the incident happened on June 22. He said the forest belonged to the village with a land holding certificate provided by the Jaiñtia Hills Autonomous District Council.
He said the villagers depend on the forest to get timber for construction of houses and firewood for cooking.
The disputed area has been on the news in April when clashes erupted between the Pnars and the Karbis when the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council erected a tax gate in Khanduli.
The stand-off between the communities has led to a series of incidents from burning of huts to assaults and a decision not to conduct business with each other. Various peace meetings were conducted by the administrations and even social organisations to build peace together.
Meanwhile, West Jaiñtia Hills Deputy Commissioner Batlang S Sohliya said the issue was taken up with his counterpart in Karbi Anglong, Krishna Baruah and no further occurrence has been reported.
