Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar on Tuesday visited Lapangap village in West Jaintia Hills to assess the tense situation following a recent confrontation over a tree plantation drive reportedly undertaken by authorities from neighboring Assam. The incident has once again brought the fragile Assam-Meghalaya border issue into sharp focus. Dhar, who also heads the Regional Committee for West Jaintia Hills and represents the Nartiang constituency, was accompanied by Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) Chief Executive Member Thombor Shiwat, Deputy Commissioner Abhinav Kumar Singh, and Superintendent of Police Jagpal Singh Dhanao.
The visit comes in the aftermath of protests on June 25, when over 400 villagers from Lapangap and adjoining areas, supported by local NGOs, allegedly dismantled structures and uprooted saplings planted by the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC). The villagers claimed that the plantation drive was carried out inside Meghalaya’s territory without proper consultation, calling it a clear case of encroachment. “Our people are totally against the plantation drive and have uprooted all the saplings. There is no plantation activity happening at the site anymore,” Dhar told reporters during the visit. He added that while a status quo is being maintained, villagers are currently facing difficulty accessing their paddy fields due to heightened tensions and movement restrictions.
Dhar assured that the matter would be thoroughly discussed at appropriate levels so that villagers can resume normal agricultural activities without fear or interference. “We are committed to ensuring the safety of our people and resolving the issue through dialogue,” he said. To maintain peace and prevent further escalation, a police contingent of 40 personnel has been deployed in the area. The district administrations of both Meghalaya and Assam are also working on organizing a joint meeting, with the Deputy Commissioners of both states expected to sit down soon to address the situation and restore normalcy. Dhar said that no road construction or additional development work is being undertaken at present in the disputed area. He explained that discussions between the regional committees of both states have not yet resumed and are likely to take place after the completion of elections in Assam.