Shillong, Sep 7: West Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police Herbert Pyniaid Kharkongor on Monday clarified reports of tension in Langpih following a census exercise by Assam officials.
He said the in-charge of Langpih Border Outpost received a call from the headman of Noapara village about officials from Assam accompanied by Assam police visiting the village without intimation to the headman or district administration.
On spot enquiry, it was found two individuals with Assam police had visited on pretext of conducting census/survey, the SP said.
“After brief interaction, Assam officials left with intimation that their unauthorised presence could provoke tension and law-and-order situation. Thereafter, the gathering dispersed peacefully,” Kharkongor said.
He said a section of village population shows inclination towards Assam while rest towards Meghalaya, and the altercation resulted from the presence of supporters of both sides. “Situation is normal,” he said.
Earlier, an official census enumeration at Noapara Lower Primary School in Langpih by Assam authorities ran into trouble after people from Meghalaya intervened.
Village headman Chankiyo Marak reached the venue with Meghalaya police and questioned the exercise, claiming the area falls under Meghalaya jurisdiction. Census enumerators were doing household verification when confrontation broke out, creating a tense atmosphere on campus. The Assam police team later escorted census officials.
Residents said Langpih and adjoining villages along Kamrup-West Khasi Hills boundary have seen repeated face-offs during surveys and development works due to unresolved overlapping claims.
