SHILLONG:
Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Urban Affairs Sniawbhalang Dhar has directed the immediate setting up of a peace committee to restore peace and harmony at Khanduli village in West Jaintia Hills District.
“I have suggested the Deputy Commissioner of West Jaintia Hills to form a peace committee (as) why should they (two communities) continue to fight every now and then,” Dhar told reporters.
He informed that the DC of West Jaintia Hills will have a meeting with the DC of West Karbi Anglong District on May 16 to stress on the need to form a peace committee.
According to him, as of now the situation is cool and calm with no fresh incident reported from the area.
“We also requested people from both sides not to provoke each other,” Dhar said.
When asked, the deputy chief minister said that they are against the setting up of a toll gate by the Assam side at Khanduli.
“We will also take up this matter right up to the chief minister level,” he added.
On Thursday last week, a clash between two communities was reported from Khanduli village. The residents have been opposing setting up of a toll gate by the officials of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council.
The clash broke out after the dorbar shnong of Khanduli decided to restrict people from the Karbi community from passing through the village.
The village council also decided to restrict the Karbi community from coming to Khanduli market after the Karbis allegedly threatened the villagers from going to their paddy fields.
The clash resulted in stone pelting and skirmishes as two huts were set ablaze.
During the incident, the official vehicle of the SP of West Jaintia Hills was also attacked. The SP, however, managed to escape unharmed, but his vehicle was partially damaged.