Various pressure groups and traditional heads of Jaintia Hills have written to the state government alleging persecution of the people of Lapangap village by people of Assam.
In the letter to the government the conglomeration of pressure groups and traditional heads said that the non settlement of the long pending boundary issue by authorities has led to self styled groups like Karbi Student Association to encroach the boundary and grab private lands of the residents of Lapangap village.
“Evidently witnessed in the series of incidents that happened in these few days and weeks and the latest of June 25, 2025 which witnessed people of Assam want to grab the landed property of our local people by force in addition to other criminal offences,” the group stated.
According to the traditional heads and pressure groups from Jaintia Hills due to failure by people of Karbi Anglong, to maintain the status quo made by the respective government agencies and failing to maintain peace and tranquility, in places marked as the disputed areas, the group suggested certain points, as precautionary measures pending final settlement of the issue.
The pressure groups and traditional heads want the government to set up a police outpost at Lapangap village to protect the Meghalaya residents.
The group wants that strategies are in place to mitigate the long pending boundary issues, to ensure the tight surveillance of no more encroachment by the people of Karbi and to protect the people of Lapangap during this sowing season.
The group also wants to explore the matters of dispute and to resolve the boundary row promptly to avoid further untoward incidents.
Meanwhile, the Jaintia Joint Alliance (JJA) has demanded immediate action from the Meghalaya government to prevent further encroachment by Assam residents in the Lapangap village.
The JJA, led by Chairman Ombormi Tariang and Secretary Everest Langstang, visited the site and witnessed the destruction of makeshift huts and uprooting of saplings planted by encroachers.
The JJA has urged the government to deploy armed police forces in the disputed area, establish a police outpost, and declare a clear policy to safeguard border villages.
The alliance drew parallels with the Mukroh tragedy and questioned the government’s preparedness to prevent similar incidents.
The key demands include – immediate deployment of armed police force to prevent further encroachment, establishment of a full-fledged police outpost in the area and clear policy declaration to safeguard border villages and citizens.
The JJA also commended the courage of local residents who stood up against encroachment but emphasized that it is the state’s constitutional duty to secure citizens’ life, property, and dignity.
The alliance called upon the government to act with urgency and responsibility to protect the interests of the people of Ri Jaintia and Hynñiewtrep.
