SANDEEP SHARMA
GUWAHATI:
Tensions escalated at upper Tarabari village along the Meghalaya-Assam border on the night of July 11 after 45 Garo families of the village were chased out by their fellow villagers for choosing to stay with Assam following the signing of the first phase of border memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two states.
The displaced families are currently staying in makeshift relief camps provided by the Paschim Luku Rabha Students Union at Jarihat under Boko police station in lower Assam’s Kamrup district, since Monday night.
“They fled from their village after the majority of the villagers, who chose to stay with Meghalaya, demolished their houses and shops on Monday night. We sheltered them at the office of Paschim Luku Rabha Students Union,” said Sobharam Rabha, member of Zila Parishad, Boko.
Confirming the incident, a senior police official told The Meghalayan, “It is a clash between two groups. Eighty per cent of the village wants to stay with Meghalaya, while the rest 20 per cent wants to be with Assam. The clash erupted last night and we have arrested three persons in this connection. Currently, further investigation into the matter is on.”
The police official further informed that Superintendent of police (SP), West Khasi Hills, has already been apprised of the incident. “The officer-in-charge of Malangkona has arrived at Jarihat to take stock of the situation. We are holding a peace meeting between two sides shortly to settle the issue,” the official added.
According to reports, the clash erupted after the village was handed over to Assam according to the border MoU signed between the two states on January 29 and this resulted in a difference of opinion among the villagers.
Rabha further said that tension had started brewing from the night of July 8 and they had informed the police, but the latter didn’t take any action. “The situation aggravated last night which forced the police to come and visit the village. As many as 45 people, including two pregnant women and 12 small children, are staying in the camp. More than eight families are also staying with their relatives here,” he said, informing that two village defence parties have been deployed to provide them security.
“We urged the government to send them back to the village under CRPF protection so that no further incident took place,” said Rabha.
Garo Development Council (GDC) chairman Alex K Sangma, who visited the affected families at Jarihat, too confirmed that the families were chased out by fellow villagers for not concurring with the latter’s decision to stay with Meghalaya. “More than 50 people ran for 10 km from their village in fear,” he said.
“Meghalaya supporters demanded Rs 5,000 from each family as fine for opting to stay with Assam. After we denied, we were chased out of the villages last night”, said Pitdon Sangma, village headman of Upper Tarabari. Pitdon also left his village and arrived at the camp along with his family.
Boko revenue circle officer Diwas Bordoloi said, “We are now trying to solve the matter and send them back to their village. We discussed the matter with a team of police from Malangkona police station of West Khasi Hills. We are holding a peace meeting with both the groups shortly.”