How long should we wait? Asked the Indo-Bangla border residents at peace rally in Khliehriat

Eddiana ShyllaMarch 30, 2021

How long should we wait before the Government listen to us and construct the Rymbai Bataw to Borkhat Sonapur Road cried out the residents of Hingaria, Huroi, Lahalein, Lejri in a protest rally at Khliehriat on Tuesday.

This rally was held in response to the government’s failure to build the road. The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of four villages along the Indo-Bangla border in East Jaintia Hills District began with a peaceful march from Deinchynrum to the Deputy Commissioner Office, East Jaintia Hills District.

Participants carrying placards, banners and shouted slogans and call-out strong public expressions of disagreement and disapproval to the government, both state and central. Subsequently, a meeting was held at the DC Office where the protesters gathered in front of the Kiang Nangbah Memorial.

JAC spokesperson, Kynjaimon Amse alleged that the motion for the peace rally is because the government have forsaken the Indo-Bangla residents and that they had no other way but to gather and go against the state and central government.

“We have been denied the basic fundamental rights ‘the right to live’ by the government as they have denied us the roads required for better health services, better network service and electricity.”, he said.

Assistant Headman, Lamsing Tyngsong expressing on the issue, “…for even the cows cannot pass by the unconstructed roads how will we pass by? …it saddens me more for the pregnant women who had to travel these unfinished roads to get to a hospital.”

Speaking on the matter, Bataw Lakadong MDC, Dr Sankey Shangpung relates to the problem of the Indo-Bangla border residents as he is a resident himself. He identified that the major problems are the lack of better roads, inconsistent electricity and terrible network service.

“If I as a local MDC, cannot even deliver my 50% to the Indo-Bangla people’s expectations then please stop giving me your support“, he stated.

In his speech, the Secretary of Huroi village, Raja L Suchen spoke on the hardship the people faced with no network services, no nearby hospitals and no doctor in the nearest medical dispensary. “It will take 4 hours to reach Umkiang from Huroi for the medical dispensary which has no doctors except for one nurse while it will take minutes to reach Bangladesh for better health service“.

The headman of Huroi, Golden Marbaniang, stated the issues of the people of these villages had to travel by foot for 3-4 hours and that the people face the dusty road in the winter and muddy road in the summer. Others who spoke, MLA Shitlang Pale, MDC Emlangki Lamare, Headman of Hingaria Moses Konglam and other social group leaders.