Shillong, Sept 19: The Khasi Students Union (KSU) along with residents from areas bordering Assam assembled in Shillong protested against the recent murder of a Khasi villager at a village in Ri Bhoi district bordering West Karbi Anglong district.
The Union would also meet Assam chief minister, Sarbananda Sonowal to seek his intervention in view of the frequent aggressive acts on the part of Assam in areas along the inter-state boundary.
KSU president Lambokstarwell Marngar said that the present Meghalaya government should not shy away on this issue or take excuse that it is a government of only few months old.
“It is the responsibility of the government to ensure security of people along the inter-state boundary be it Langpih, Block-I, Block-II and other places,†Marngar said as he addressed the protesters near Additional Secretariat here.
He asked the Meghalaya government how many more lives of Khasi people have to be lost due to the inter-state boundary dispute with Assam and recalled the killing of Khasi villager, Tyngshaiñ Mukhim at Khlieh Umwang village in Ri-Bhoi district bordering West Karbi Anglong district, and the firing incident that claimed the lives of four Khasi villagers on May 14, 2010 at Langpih in West Khasi Hills district, bordering Kamrup district, Assam.
Mukhim succumbed to injuries on September 12, after he was assaulted by one, Romesh Thapa on September 9.
According to Marngar, if the Meghalaya government cannot send police personnel to areas bordering Assam because of shortage of manpower, then it should tell the people its inability to provide security so that the public can by themselves guard against any kind of aggressive acts.
He also asked Assam and Meghalaya to show willingness to discuss and find solution to the problem especially when Meghalaya had already submitted documents on the areas of difference.
Marngar also informed the KSU would seek appointment with the Assam chief minister to apprise him of the problems, and to seek his intervention as Khasi people residing in areas along the in-state boundary face various problems and Assam should honour the ‘status quo.’
