In a bid to restore peace and tranquility among the Pnars and Karbis in Khanduli village of West Jaiñtia Hills, a peace meeting was held today at the Khanduli border outpost of Assam police.
Member of the Khanduli Peace Committee, Pyrkhat Pyrphet told reporters that during the meeting, it was agreed that they will wait for an official letter from the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) to remove the tax gate installed in Khanduli.
The tax-gate was seen as a cause of tension that erupted into a clash between the Pnar and Karbi communities this month in the inter-state border.
“We will continue to live in peace and we will soon meet our MDCs of the district council to communicate with the KAAC for the betterment of the people living in the border,” Pyrphet said.
The peace meeting was attended by District Assistant Commissioner W. K Kharbuli, Deputy Superintendent of Police (Law & Order) A. J Sangma, Namdong C& RD Block, BDO B. Sungoh representing West Jaintia Hills district, and Assistant Commissioner and Border Magistrate Rakesh Thakur and Circle Inspector Z. Baithanglangdi of West Karbi Anglong, Hamren as well as representatives from both the communities.
Kharbuli said the meeting is to bridge the communication gap between the two communities for a better and smooth exchange from both ends and moreover to bring about peace and tranquility in the area. He also expressed his eagerness to see that normalcy which was established a long time ago should be restored and cherished so that the people from both communities could again continue their trade related exchanges and others purposes.
He further urged both communities to take advantage of today’s meeting by taking a strong resolution towards strengthening peace and prosperity in the area.
Thakur mentioned about the importance of having frequent communication or dialogues between the two communities of the two States so as to further strengthen the ongoing relationship. He also expressed his appreciation about the peace talk meeting being organised saying that amidst the various issues and problems going on for the past many years, that today’s peace talk meeting was a good sign towards better days ahead.
The leaders from both sides evaluated the prevailing issues at their end and taking resolution towards maintaining a status quo of peace and harmony in the area.
