Officials, village leaders from both sides hold meeting ahead of harvest
Jowai, Oct 22: In a show of solidarity, hundreds of people on Wednesday joined farmers of Lapangap village in harvesting their paddy after successful outcome of a meeting between representatives from both sides of Meghalaya-Assam border.
The paddy harvest has resumed in the border village in West Jaintia Hills has resumed paddy nearly two weeks after violent clashes between Pnar and Karbi villagers from Tahpat in West Karbi Anglong on October 9, resulting in the death of a person.
Ahead of the paddy harvest at Pynthor Lapangap, the people assembled near the village football field to await the outcome of a dialogue held at Khanduli between Meghalaya and Assam government officials and village leaders from Lapangap and Tahpat.
After being informed about positive outcome of the meeting, the villagers accompanied by people from neighbouring villages, proceeded to the fields to resume the harvest.
The gathering of hundreds of people displayed a spirit of cooperation and calm during the period.
Leaders from Synjuk ki Waheh Chnong Ri Jaintia (conglomerate of village heads from Jaintia Hills) and representatives from prominent NGOs, including FKJGP, KSU and JSU, also accompanied the villagers in a show of solidarity.
Security forces from both Assam and Meghalaya were deployed in and around the area to ensure the harvest took place peacefully and without any further incident.
