Shillong, Aug 17: The authority of the Assam Rifles has allegedly disallowed people residing in a village adjacent to it to use a footbridge constructed over Umkhen river.

According to residents of Jyntah village, the action by the Assam Rifles has caused immense hardship to the people of the area including students.

Jyntah village is near Madanrting in the outskirt of the city.

They alleged that the Assam Rifles had closed down the footbridge by fencing it with barb wires.

Speaking to reporters here on Friday, headman of Jyntah village, Arestar Sohtun said that the footbridge has been closed down for the past one week by the Assam Rifles.

“Due to the action of the army authority, people are forced to cross the Umkhen River and this has posed danger to their lives especially during monsoon season where the water level rises due to heavy rain,” he said.

He said that the former headmen of the village had from time to time raised the matter with the public representatives but no action was taken till date but gave only false assurances.

He informed that earlier there was an agreement between the deputy commissioner and the army authority to allow people to use the footbridge. However, now they have again started to create unnecessary problem to the villagers, he added.