Editor,
How happy were we the relatives of the people who are farmers of Lapangap,on hearing of the peace effort of the two districts – West Karbi Anglong District and the West Jaiñtia District. The two newspapers one English and the other Khasi tell readers that the Karbis have dictated terms and conditions to our next of kin of Lapangap to reach a peace accord.
And 80 kilometers away on reaching Shillong, I was telephoned by my nephew that the Karbis then ordered the immediate felling of all the trees planted. As viewed on YouTube, the people of Lapangap refused to comply.
What had become of these leaders of our state of Meghalaya? For months before harvest seasons, our people were ill-treated by these Karbis in all sorts of ways like by shooting at them with a catapult, or shooting at the tin roof to scare them in their sleep and not long ago three farm houses were burnt down.
I live in Kyndong Tuber, a two-hour drive from Lapangap. Every day the fear looms large on them as by now they are being deprived of their daily chores to inspect water level on paddy fields or to monitor the flow of water from the feeding river or stream.
Their last ray of hope was to plead for help from their local MLA Sniawbhalang Dhar but he refused to help. The police personnel of both Assam and Meghalaya are there but remain mute spectators.
Few weeks back, the KHNAM or the Khasi Hynñiewtrep National Awakening Movements, went to Lapangap to take stock of the situation but sad to tell, they were not allowed to visit en bloc. This is too little they could do.
And 80 km away from what had happened at Lapangap as soon as the two districts left for their respective destinations ,the Karbis began to dictate terms by ordering the people of Lapangap to cut down all the trees and this was seen on YouTube.
Where is the law my Chief Minister Conrad Sangma? The border issue yet to be settled may be dually or as heard by the Honourable Supreme Court.
And why oh why our people of Lapangap are being tortured right and left? The reason is not far but to seek. (1) That unbreakable friendship between the two Chief Ministers is the main cause. Proof: Turn to Maikhuli and Pilingkata with that first MOU of Conrad Sangma. It was but a cake walk and on a headline “What the successive governments in 50 years could not do, I did it in my tenure”.
I don’t know what he is talking about as victory belonged to his bosom counterpart Himanta Biswa Sarma. (2) Both are full-fledged BJP. Proof: On victory day, NDTV declared that BJP captured three North East states with Conrad Sangma, though with 25 seats the NPP did not flush at all. The fact is the two BJP MLAs are but washing machines as the Union Home Minister a week before the poll declared that “Meghalaya is the most corrupt State”. So no matter how corrupted all shall be as white as snow all 25 plus 11 plus 2 plus 2 though very late joiners.
Let’s look only to the Honourable Supreme Court to finally deliver justice to once and for all end all these terrifying impasses.
Bal Lewis Pakma
Retd. Rural Development Officer
Meghalaya Apex Bank, Jowai
Kyndong Tuber – 793150
