Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong, who holds the Home Department portfolio, today assured that the situation on the Assam-Meghalaya border in West Jaintia Hills has improved and special efforts are underway to restore order in Lapangap.
Speaking to reporters, Tynsong said the Meghalaya government has set up a temporary police station at Lapangap and deployed 30 policemen working round the clock to maintain peace and order. The Assam government has also deployed police across the border.
Tynsong expressed confidence that the situation has improved and said that the Chief Ministers of the two states will discuss this matter to resolve the outstanding issues.
When asked about the plan to set up a permanent police station in the area, Tynsong said the option of converting the temporary police station into a permanent one will be a matter to be considered after the circumstances have improved.
The latest situation arose last week when villagers and members of pressure groups ripped up saplings and burned small structures that had been the initiative of Assam’s Karbi Anglong authorities. The area is disputed between Assam and Meghalaya’s West Jaintia Hills.
Earlier today, members of the Jaintia Student Union (JSU) staged a protest outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office calling for immediate deployment of a special police force at Lapangap village.
The union met with the Deputy Commissioner who assured them that the district administration will send a request to the government for additional police force to maintain peace and order in the area, particularly during the sowing season.
The Deputy Commissioner also invited the JSU to join the peace committee to resolve issues and ensure peace and stability in the region.
