SHILLONG, MAY 14: Meghalaya Police have moved an SF-10 platoon and two additional platoons of the Meghalaya Battalion to Lapangap village in West Jaintia Hills, Director General of Police Idashisha Nongrang said on Thursday, a day after residents marched to the state secretariat alleging harassment of farmers by groups from the Karbi side.
The deployment follows a decision taken by Deputy Chief Minister, which the police department “seconded,” Nongrang said.
“The people of Lapangap had come yesterday. There was a significant turnout. In fact, my officers on the ground were saying the majority of Lapangap village turnout enmasse yesterday,” the DGP said.
According to Nongrang, villagers told police that while cultivation itself was not being blocked, crops were being destroyed overnight.
“It was a very genuine problem for them. They have been saying that while the Assam side is not stopping the cultivation but what is happening, they go for the cultivation and in the evenings whatever they planted is uprooted during the night. That is the problem which they are really facing,” she said.
She added that residents had raised concerns over the level of security. “They are saying that we haven’t had much of support from us and we have been trying our best,” Nongrang stated.
The DGP confirmed that SF-10 personnel, specifically sought by villagers, had been dispatched early Thursday.
“So yesterday the decision that was taken by the deputy chief minister which was seconded by us, we would send in because the villagers of Lapangap when the problem first flared up, we had sent in our SF-10. They wanted the presence of SF-10 there. They had gone today and they should be reaching there by now as they had left early in the morning,” she said.
On current strength, Nongrang said, “A platoon at the moment and we will see depending on the situation, we will see whether we need to put in more people or not.” Two platoons of the Meghalaya Battalion were also sent to the area on Tuesday, she added.
“Additionally, day before yesterday, we had already sent two platoons of Meghalaya Battalion people there.”
The DGP said further deployment would be based on ground developments. “It will depend on the situation. When we are deploying for law and order it all depends on what happens, it is a developing situation, we would take assessment every now and then,” she said.
Addressing demands for a police outpost at Lapangap, Nongrang referred to the Barato outpost inaugurated last Saturday, located around 16 to 19 km from the village.
“Lapangap, just last Saturday we inaugurated the Barato, which is just about 16 or 19 kilometers away,” she said.
She noted that Assam’s stance on maintaining status quo in disputed areas affects permanent construction. “As you are aware Assam insisted that we maintain status quo. So, while they have put up theirs, it is more of a camp. So, depending on the situation, we will also see from our side, we would put up a camp,” Nongrang said.
