An unsettling calm has settled over Lapangap village, located along the fraught interstate border with Assam, following a violent clash that resulted in the death of a Karbi man. This incident occurred just one day prior, prompting locals to stay indoors amid a significant police presence on Friday. Since a prior clash in June, around 30 police officers had already been stationed in Lapangap, with an additional contingent of about 25 personnel arriving on Thursday, followed by another 25-30 equipped for riot control on Friday, as noted by a senior official.
The headman of Lapangap, Deimonmi Lyngdoh, has stated that the villagers bear no responsibility for the death of the deceased, identified as Orivel Timung from Tapat village. He reported that the villagers were actually fleeing from an armed attack involving roughly 500 Karbi men during their paddy harvesting operation. “We could have died as over 500 Karbi men armed with dao and catapults attacked the harvest party. We ran for our lives along with the Meghalaya Police personnel,” Lyngdoh stated.
According to him, the villagers began their harvesting around 9 a.m. on Thursday after obtaining permission from the district administration. “Within 10 to 15 minutes, we were attacked. Our people had been instructed not to carry any weapons, and we complied. All of us ran home,” he added. They later learned that the Karbi men had outnumbered the Assam Police, who were present to thwart the assault on the villagers.
The confrontation compelled the Meghalaya Police to deploy tear gas to disperse the escalating mob, and authorities subsequently imposed a night curfew in the area. Previous incidents in June had already witnessed violent confrontations between Lapangap residents and those from Karbi-dominated areas, leading both Assam and Meghalaya police to bolster security along the interstate border.
In response to the ongoing violence, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma has called for residents of both states to prioritize dialogue over aggression in addressing the longstanding border dispute. He urged citizens to exercise patience and cooperation as both state governments work towards a peaceful resolution. Describing the recent incident as unfortunate, Sangma explained that both police forces were attempting to calm their respective crowds when tensions escalated.
“Both the police were restraining their own population to not be aggressive and cool down, but while they were doing so, the crowd size increased. They were larger in number, and a scuffle ensued, resulting in one person’s death,” he clarified, emphasizing that the confrontation was between civilians.
Reinforcing the government’s commitment to peaceful dialogue, Sangma said, “We urge people to allow the government to engage and talk as we resolve this. If the community members can cooperate and tolerate one another, they will be able to find a way forward.” He concluded by stressing the need for restraint and dialogue to address the ongoing issues.
Original Source: https://theshillongtimes.com/2025/10/11/lapangap-calm-after-clash/
Category: MEGHALAYA
Tags:
Publish Date: 2025-10-11 02:58:00
