Shillong, Jan 8: The Hynniewtrep Border Disputed Redressal Forum (HBDRF) has sought the intervention of the Meghalaya Human Rights Commission (MHRC) in alleged human rights violation by Assam side on the people of Labang Nangphyllut in West Jaintia Hills district some years ago.
During the years from 2000 to 2018, the people of Labang Nangphyllut faced a lot of aggression from Karbis militant groups known as Karbi National Volunteers (KNV), Karbi People Liberation Tigers (KPLT), Karbi Longri Raikom Asong (KLRA), and United People’s Democratic Solidarity (UPDS), etc. during 2000-18, the Forum said in a letter to the chairperson of MHRC.
The HBDRF alleged that the Karbi outfits used to demand ₹1000 to ₹5000 from every household as “tax” every year.
The Karbi militants also demand for snatch poultry, cattle, vegetables, etc., sexually harass women and children, and beat up young boys and elderly persons without any reason, the Forum alleged.
The alleged atrocities forced the villagers to flee to Sahsniang village in August 2003, according to the Forum.
It said although the then chief minister DD Lapang and his Assam counterpart Prafulla Kumar Mahanta assured the people of refugees from Labang Nangphyllut of settling the boundary dispute and providing compensation for their losses, the victims have not received any government help yet.
Meanwhile, the Forum said, the atrocities recurred in July-August 2015 when there were mob attacks on Khasi-Jaintia villagers at Madan myni, Mooriap, Mookhim, the Forum said, adding that this time the Khasi-Jaintia villagers fled to nearby villages Mooluber, Khanduli, Lapangap, Saitsama, and Namdong in Jowai.
Mentioning that both governments had agreed to maintain status quo in these areas, the Forum said the status quo should not hinder the process of development initiated by both the governments in the disputed region.
It alleged that most of the villages inhabited by Khasi-Jaintia population do not have any lower primary school let alone any scope of higher education and health centre.
