Correspondent
Shillong, Sep 21 (NPN): Tensions flared along the Assam-Meghalaya border on Monday after Assam Police conducted foot patrols in Mukroh, a disputed village bordering Meghalaya’s West Jaintia Hills district and Assam’s West Karbi Anglong district.
The Assam Police’s failure to notify the Meghalaya Police before patrolling the highly sensitive Mukroh village has caused widespread concern among the Pnar community residing in the village.
A group of more than 20 Assam Police personnel entered the Phlong area of Mukroh at around 12.45 pm on Monday and marched on foot from the Lumthidow side along the NEC road and an internal road.
A police official stated that Jagpal Singh Dhanoa, the district police chief of West Jaintia Hills, has taken up the matter regarding the unannounced entry of Assam Police personnel into Mukroh with his counterpart in the West Karbi Anglong district.
This correspondent was unable to reach Dhanoa for further clarity on the matter.
Notably, tension recently escalated in Mukroh village after residents and the village head turned away Assam government officials attempting a door-to-door demographic enumeration, maintaining that Mukroh falls strictly under Meghalaya’s administrative jurisdiction.
Meanwhile, the Dorbar Shnong (Village Council) of Mukroh Pyllun has sought an explanation from the Meghalaya Police and to step up security along the sensitive border area.
In a letter to the In-Charge of the Barato Police Outpost under Meghalaya, the Waheh Shnong (Village Headman) Kitang Maskut and Secretary of Dorbar Shnong Mukroh Pyllun said the movement took place without prior information to the village council, residents or Meghalaya Police personnel stationed in the area.
The village council has specifically sought to know whether the Barato Police Outpost or the West Jaintia Hills district police had received any advance information about the movement.
It also questioned why the village council and residents were not informed if such communication had taken place.
According to the village council, Mukroh falls under Meghalaya and the jurisdiction of the Barato Police Outpost in Laskein Block of West Jaintia Hills district.
Mukroh is a sensitive inter-state border location and was the site of the November 22, 2022 firing incident.
The latest movement had caused fear and confusion among residents and could have law-and-order implications,” the village council said, urging the Meghalaya Police to increase patrolling and security at the Mukroh BOP to ensure thesafety of life and property of the villagers.
Meghalaya claims that Mukroh is in West Jaintia Hills district, while Assam says the village falls under the Jirikinding police station area in West Karbi Anglong district.