Attempt by Khasi miscreants to grab Assam's land in Cachar District averted by the Public

In an attempt to occupy the land of Assam some miscreants belonging to a Khasi organisation of Meghalaya viz ‘Khasi Hanm Land Protection Cell’ planted a signboard and pillars in Malidahar area, 400 metres inside the Cachar district on last Friday night. The sign board was inscribed with the words ‘Welcome to Meghalaya’ alongwith some other texts. The very next day, people of the locality observed this activity and informed the former Zilla Parishad president Subrata Chakraborty and the district administration as well.

Mr. Chakraborty rushed to the spot and requested the agitated people to calm down. He also contacted the District Administration and requested to take appropriate measures as early as possible.

In the meanwhile, the Administration and Gumrah Police with the help of local people removed and confiscated the controversial sign board and pillar on Saturday afternoon.

The people of the area, including New Malidahar Karbi Punzi’s headman Blunsin Durung and community social worker Baren Hanse informed that the Meghalaya government occupied about five kilometres area of Assam long back. The problem arose in 1974, when the Meghalaya government claimed that their land was up to the Malidahar Bridge of Baleshwar river. The Government of Assam remained silent that time. Later, a group of people of Meghalaya claimed ownership of land 500 metres inside Cachar District. Under the initiative of the administration and the then Forest Officer, the area at the foothill of Borail was declared as ‘Borail Wildlife Sanctuary’ .

Almost four years ago, Meghalaya Khasi Students’ Union activists also tried to put similar signboards, but their attempts were all in vain.

Friday’s incident once again proved that some organisations of Meghalaya are continuously trying to capture the land of Assam. Local people think that if the Administration does not stops the aggression in consultation with the Meghalaya government, the problems may worsen in future.