Concerns loom large among the residents of Barapathar, a border village in Ri-Bhoi, as a surge in police from Assam began patrolling the area and cordoning parts of it off.
The situation began when a landowner donated land for the construction of a water tank in the village, work on which was being carried out through the Meghalaya government under the central Jal Jeevan Mission. Two residents of Assam living in the village apparently opposed this and stirred the authorities in the neighbouring state by claiming that the land on which the tank was being built was on Assam territory. As a result, government officials and police from Assam came to the village with the intention of halting work on the project. However, police from the Meghalaya outpost in Pilangkata prevented disruption to the construction work.
Local residents are apprehensive that this heightened security presence could potentially lead to untoward incidents, jeopardising the peace and tranquillity in their community.
The two Assam individuals, identified as Nurul Islam and Tutu Mazumdar, allegedly attempted to obstruct the ongoing construction of the water tank and even threatened the landowner. A complaint was subsequently filed at Pilangkata police outpost against the Assam duo.
Just a day after the FIR was lodged, however, Assam police bolstered their presence in the Barapathar area.
In light of these developments, the villagers have urgently called upon the Ri-Bhoi district administration and police to take immediate and proactive measures to defuse tensions and prevent any outbreaks of violence in the area.
