HT Bureau
DIPHU, April 22: A team led by village headmen Stealenson Phangco, Bronson Ronghang and Neatheniel Chinthong of Mothade (B) village border Meghalaya in West Karbi Anglong met chief executive member (CEM) of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC), Tuliram Ronghang at his official residence on Friday and submitted a memorandum opposing the ‘give-and-take agreement’ adopted by the government of Meghalaya and government of Assam while resolving the inter-state border issue between the two states and also demanded protection of boundary of Mothade (B) village.
The team also recalled the April 15 incident when a large number of people from Mojeng, Sopiang, Molain, Mubhar and Behjhur Khasi villages of Meghalaya intruded into Mothade (B) village and destroyed betel nut trees, bamboos, banana trees, cinnamon trees, chandan, lemons, bay trees (tejpatta) and themuke cultivated by the villagers. However, the Mothade (B) villagers claimed that the Khasi villages were inside West Karbi Anglong. The dispute was not the inter-state boundary, but the village boundary.
The memorandum further mentioned that on April 17 last administrative officers, police and leaders of Khasi Students Union from Meghalaya came to Mothade (B) and allegedly threatened the residents of the area to leave the village as it is now under Meghalaya. The village boundary dispute has been turned into an inter-state boundary dispute because of the so-called ‘give and take agreement’ of 2022.
The villagers of Mothade (B) also alleged that police posted there did nothing to protect the villagers. The local Member of Autonomous Council (MAC) also did nothing. The so-called ‘give and take agreement’ is leading to bisecting of West Karbi Anglong, a part will go to Meghalaya and another part will remain in Assam.
The Mothade (B) villagers have demanded that KAAC pay compensation for the loss incurred. They have also demanded cancellation of ‘give and take agreement’ on Assam-Meghalaya inter – state borders and to protect the village boundary of Mothade (B) village.
Meanwhile during a press conference held here at District Press Club of Karbi Anglong on Saturday, the president, All Party Hill Leaders Conference (APHLC), JI Kathar demanded that the ‘give and take agreement’ should be cancelled. Compensation for the loss of valuable trees planted by the villagers should be given by the KAAC, they demanded.
