A group of people from Karbi Anglong accompanied by Assam police allegedly destroyed thousands of tree saplings in Lapangap village along the inter-state border.
The incident was flagged by the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) Lapangap unit to West Jaiñtia Hills Deputy Commissioner Batlang S Sohliya today.
According to the union, 20000 tree saplings were planted a week back in the village land, at a place along the fringes of Tahpat village from a scheme through the Meghalaya Basin Development Authority.
The KSU told the Deputy Commissioner that one Augustine Hanse led a large crowd of Karbi from Tahpat and nearby villages. They said that the crowd was escorted by the Assam police, encroached upon the land and damaged a large portion of the tree plantation.
Speaking to reporters, leaders of the union said the government should put an end to further encroachment by the Karbis, otherwise they have to take drastic measures to secure Meghalaya’s territory.
