The Jaiñtia Students Movement (JSM) has lodged a complaint with the West Jaiñtia Hills Deputy Commissioner citing illegal collection of money by Assam police along the Tahpat-Lapangap-Khanduli road.
According to the group, residents of Lapangap village under Namdong block have been using the road to commute but for the last two weeks they have been subjected to harassment by the police of the neighbouring state.
“The police personnel demand every Meghalaya vehicles to produce their driver licence, vehicle registration certificate amongst other and anyone cannot produce any of documents are fined Rs 500 or Rs 1000,” the JSM stated.
Urging the Deputy Commissioner to take up the issue with his counterpart in Assam, the group said that such acts by the Assam police would lead to unrest similar to those in 2023.
Lapangap located in the border of West Jaiñtia Hills and West Karbi Anglong district has seen a series of clashes between the Karbi and Pnar communities last year after residents of uprooted an entry tax gate near Khanduli erected by the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council. This event led to socio-economic embargo put in the area by both the communities.
