Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar on Wednesday said the state government would send more security personnel to Lapangap village along the interstate border with Assam to ensure uninterrupted farming activities amid tensions and alleged disturbances by Karbi groups.
The assurance came after hundreds of villagers from Lapangap in West Jaintia Hills district descended on Shillong, demanding government action over a longstanding boundary dispute and alleged harassment by groups from the Karbi Anglong district of Assam.
“We had a very fruitful meeting. I have assured them that the government will do everything possible to protect our people and ensure that peace prevails as before,” Dhar told reporters after meeting the delegation.
The protesters, mostly farmers, gathered at Barik Point before marching towards the Main Secretariat. They were joined by members of the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) from the Nartiang Circle and the West Jaintia Hills District Unit.
At the heart of the protest is an unresolved territorial dispute that villagers say has left them unable to farm their own land safely. Recurring tensions along the border have disrupted agricultural activities, with residents alleging interference from Karbi groups and Assam Police in areas critical to their livelihoods. Many carried placards reading “Whether we live or die, we will never give away our land.”