No magistrate & DSP from Meghalaya to confront Magistrate from Assam in Lapangap

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMay 15, 2019

JOWAI: The indifferent attitude of the Meghalaya Government towards handling crisis in border areas was clearly show in an incident this afterrnoon in Lapangap Village located in the border of West Jaintia Hills District and West Karbi Anglong District as the Government did not depute any magistrate and gazetted police officer to confront the opposition by Assam Government to ongoing road repair work conducted by the people of Lapangap.

The people of Lapangap as decided by the Dorbar Shnong Lapangap were from repairing the road from Lapangap to Khanduli (through Langkeroi Village falling under West Karbi Anglong District) but Assam police came and stopped them on Tuesday’s evening. 

However, the local Dorbar Shnong resolved to carry out the repair work on Wednesday after the Siatsama Police Outpost personnel told them that they will come on Wednesday to accompany them.

The people of Lapangap cames out in large number again from this morning to repair the road, which will become muddy and slippery after the beginning of the rainy season. The police team from Saitsama OP and Nartiang PS led by its Officer in Charge came to the village. While Barato Mukroh MDC Aibor Shadap and Mynsngat Khanduli MDC Dawan Lyngdoh also came to the village after being informed by the local people. 

However after few hours, a team of heavily armed police personnel in two trucks under the leadership of Magistrate Robert Tulor, DSP P Gogoi and other rushed to the spot for stopping the work.

According to Robert, “We came to stop the work as we received complaint from resident of Langkeroi that there is construction of road in the area without any prior intimation to the district administration of West Jaintia Hills District and West Karbi Anglong District.”

The Nartiang Police and the Waheh Chnong of Lapangap Village however clarified to him that there is no construction of road but mere repairing of the road before the start of rainy season which they used to do every year.

The Magistrate then asked the headman of Lapangap and the headman of Langkeroi to resolve the matter amongst themselves. Though the magistrate wanted to put the work on hold till intimation is being done to both sides but the two MDCs and the people of Lapangap called for continuance of the repairing of the road.

Talking to reporters, Robert said, “We have decided to let the people of Lapangap continues with the social work in the area falling within Meghalaya but they should not touch the area falling in Langkeroi Village. Any work along the border of Assam-Meghalaya there should be prior intimation to both side as agreed by the two government of Assam and Meghalaya.”