Day after firing and six deaths, Meghalaya’s bordering Mukroh village tense

The village headman says people fear that Assam police might come again with guns loaded with 'real bullets, not rubber bullets'.

Assam Meghalaya border firing, Assam Meghalaya border issue, Conrad Sangma, Assam Meghalaya peace talks, Assam Meghalaya unrest, indian express

Security personnel at a vandalised forest office in West Karbi Anglong district on Wednesday, day after the killings near the Assam-Meghalaya border. PTI

Written by: Debraj Deb

5 min readMeghalayaNov 24, 2022 10:42 AM IST First published on: Nov 23, 2022 at 10:48 PM IST

THERE WAS tension and fear in the air at Mukroh village in Meghalaya along the border with Assam. On the outskirts, several cars with black flags were being readied for a protest rally. Just a day earlier, five persons from the village were killed in a clash over alleged timber-smuggling with Assam Police, which opened fire and claimed later they were forced to do so in self defence.

The big question in Mukroh was: “When will those people with guns come here again?”

Also Read | What is the Assam-Meghalaya border dispute, how the recent killing of six people impacts it

On Wednesday, the governments of Assam and Meghalaya went all out to calm nerves along their contentious border with the incident clouding boundary talks that are expected to be held soon.

Assam Chief Minister Hemanta Biswa Sarma described the firing by his state’s police as “unprovoked” and said the State Cabinet has recommended a CBI probe. His Meghalaya counterpart Conrad Sangma, who condemned the police action and sought a central probe, visited Mukroh and assured residents of justice and suitable compensation for the families of victims.

But local residents said there was “so much pain, anguish, fear and anger”.

Officials identified those killed from the village as Thal Shadap (45), Sik Talang (55), Chirup Sumer (40), Tal Nartiang (40) and Nikhasi Dhar (65). The body of the sixth person killed in the clash — Assam Forest Guard Bidyasing Lekhte — was handed over to the neighbouring state by authorities in Meghalaya.

Four people, including a forest guard, were killed in violence at the Assam-Meghalaya border after the police intercepted a truck transporting illegal timber in the early hours of Tuesday. (PTI Photo)

“People are sad, insecure and angry. They are worried that they (Assam Police) will come again with guns. These are not rubber bullets. These are real bullets,” said Hamboide Sumer, the village headman.

According to him, the incident reopened wounds from 20 years ago when six people from the village were shot by armed insurgents. “Both the Meghalaya and Assam governments have announced Rs 5 lakh each as compensation for the families of those killed. Money can’t bring back the dead. Instead, those who were behind this unprovoked firing should be brought to justice immediately,” Sumer said.

Also Read | Assam cops actions ‘unprovoked, uncontrolled’: CM Himanta Sarma on Meghalaya border violence

“Mukroh is not a disputed area but it has suffered so much from the inter-state boundary conflict. Nobody will accept blood money in the form of compensation from Assam at this village. Some police and forest officials were suspended, transferred. What good will it do? They should be arrested immediately,” said Sumer, referring to action taken by the Assam government.

(PTI quoted officials from Assam as saying that protesters had torched a forest office and a government vehicle near the site of the incident in Meghalaya’s West Jaintia Hills bordering Assam’s West Karbi Anglong on Tuesday night, hours after the clash.)

Officials in Assam have warned against vehicles from the state travelling through Meghalaya till the situation is brought under control. A vehicle with an Assam number plate was set ablaze in the Jhalupara area of Shillong, they said. West Jaintia Hills SP Bikram Marak said “all necessary steps” were being taken to prevent any deterioration in law and order.

In Mukroh, meanwhile, the local pastor held a special prayer service for those killed. “I can’t express it fully but the people are feeling so disappointed at the loss. They are very sad, especially because most of those killed were heading their families. The families are at a loss for survival,” the pastor, R Snongkynrih, said.

Also Read | Hours after Meghalaya sought NIA, CBI probe into Mukroh firing, Assam says will hand over investigation to central agency

Pynyoolad Kyndiah, another local resident, pointed to frequent run-ins with authorities from across the border in Assam. “A large majority of villagers are farmers and most of their paddy fields are in an area where Assam authorities frequently come to disturb them. It’s harvesting season now. And most of the problems happen at this time. If the two states can’t solve their boundary dispute, a police border outpost should at least be set up here to prevent such flare-ups,” he said.

Late Wednesday, Assam Chief Minister Sarma took to Twitter and described the incident as “unfortunate”. “In a Cabinet meeting today, we expressed deep concern and condolences at the death of 6 persons and injuries caused to several others in an unfortunate police-civilian conflict situation in West Karbi Anglong,” he posted.

“We decided to request Hon Justice Smt Rumi Phukan, Retd Judge of Gauhati HC, to conduct a judicial probe into facts & circumstances that led to the incident & conclude the enquiry within 60 days. Our Cabinet also decided to hand over the related police investigation to CBI,” he wrote.

“We advised police to restrain use of lethal weapons while dealing with civilian population. SOPs for police as well as forest personnel will be prepared to deal with such situations. All police station in-charges will be properly sensitised on such matters,” Sarma posted.