2 Meghalaya police, 1 Assam policeinjured in catapult attack in Lapangap village

In fresh violence in the disputed border area of Meghalaya and Assam at Lapangap, two Meghalaya police and one Assam police personnel were injured on Friday, after Karbi villagers allegedly hit them with steel ball bearings released by catapults.
A Meghalaya Police official said that Karbi villagers allegedly attacked Pnar villagers ,who were harvesting paddy at Lapangap, with catapults.
“We immediately alerted the Assam Police of the development. The Assam Police led by its in-charge of Tahapat Police Outpost arrived at the spot and attempted to pacify the villagers,” the police official said.
However, the Karbi villagers continued to released steel ball bearings from a distance using catapults, one of which struck the Assam Police In-charge of Tahapat outpost causing him severe injuries, he said.
The injured Assam police official was shifted to hospital. Following the incident, the Karbi villagers retreated from the area after which the Lapangap villagers completed harvesting under the protection of police party. Meanwhile, security has been beefed up in the area and there is an uneasy calm prevailing.
Assam and Meghalaya have a long-standing dispute in 12 areas along the 885 km-long inter-state border. In March 2022, Assam Chief Minister Sarma and his Meghalaya counterpart, Conrad Sangma signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) resolving their border dispute in six of the 12 areas of difference in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
In the first phase, six areas were resolved and a MoU signed to put at rest the differences in these areas. The six areas were Tarabari, Gizang, Hahim, Boklapara, Khanapara-Pillangkata and Ratacheera.
Both Assam and Meghalaya adopted a give and take policy under which Meghalaya took control of 18.28 square km and Assam 18.51 km out of the total disputed area of 36.79 square km in these six areas.