Shillong, Sep 21: More than 20 armed Assam Police personnel allegedly entered Mukroh village in West Jaintia Hills today, triggering panic among villagers in the sensitive border area.
In a complaint to the in-charge of Barato Police Outpost, the Dorbar Shnong Mukroh Pyllun said the Assam Police personnel marched on foot at around 12:45 pm from Lumthidow side towards Phlong area along NEC and internal roads, in full uniform with arms, accompanied by reporters and cameramen who were videographing the march.
Mukroh is under Barato Outpost, Laskein Block, West Jaintia Hills, where Meghalaya’s Border Outpost (BOP) and Meghalaya Police Battalion are stationed at Lumthridow. The dorbar questioned how the Assam personnel passed right in front of the BOP and Battalion without checking and marched up to Phlong without prior intimation to the dorbar or Meghalaya Police.
Seeking written clarification from Barato Outpost, the dorbar asked whether the outpost or district police had any prior information about the movement, what was its purpose and authority, and why media persons were allowed to record inside Meghalaya territory without permission.
“Was it to create fear among the villagers or to claim the area?” the Dorbar asked.
Mukroh is a sensitive inter-state border location and was the site of the November 22, 2022 firing incident.
The dorbar said such movement without information creates fear psychosis and may lead to law and order problem.
The dorbar urged the outpost in-charge to take up the matter with SP, West Jaintia Hills, lodge a strong protest with counterpart in West Karbi Anglong, ensure no Assam Police enters Mukroh without prior intimation and joint coordination as per boundary agreement, and increase patrolling and security at Mukroh BOP.
