Roads in Lapangap village in Meghalaya wore a deserted look as people remained indoors amid heavy rain, while police personnel are camping there on Friday, a day after a clash between its residents and the villagers of Assam’s Karbi Anglong district left one person dead. The village headman of Lapangap in West Jaintia Hills district claimed that they were not responsible for the death of the Karbi community man, since they had run back home after being attacked. A senior district official told reporters that additional personnel have been sent to prevent further violence in the area where tension prevailed on either side of the border for the past one week over harvesting of paddy, with both sides claiming that the land was theirs.
Authorities have increased security in the area. Around 25 police personnel are stationed on a hillock near Assam’s Tapat village, joining 30 officers already in Lapangap. Another 25–30 officers in riot gear were deployed on Friday to prevent further violence. The clash is part of ongoing tensions over paddy fields claimed by both sides. The dispute intensified in June after Lapangap villagers uprooted saplings planted by Karbi residents, prompting retaliatory attacks, including the burning of huts. A night curfew has been imposed, and police used tear gas to disperse mobs during Thursday’s confrontation. “Villagers are waiting for district authorities to help complete the harvest safely,” Lyngdoh said. Security forces from both states continue to monitor the border to prevent further escalation.