Hotel owner used bullying tactics: KHM

FROM A REPORTER

SHILLONG, July 31: The Khun Hynniewtrep tiol Awakening Movement (KHM) has alleged that during their visit to Them Marwet Khapara, Ri-Bhoi district, the owner of an under construction five- star hotel has used bullying tactics.  

It may be mentioned that the five-star hotel is being built along Meghalaya- Assam boundary. The hotel is just a stone’s throw away from the “Koidhora” hillock where Assam Chief Minister’s official residence is located.

According to the KHM youth wing president, Thomas Passah, during the visit to the area recently, they witnessed that although police from both Assam and Meghalaya were present however Meghalaya police were mere by-standers.

“The constant harassment and encroachment by Assam is not new phenome since it has been happening for the past 44 years and the people residing near the interstate border are always facing problems,” Passah said.

Citing the incident that took place on November 11 in which the Assam government, had through the SDO (Civil) of Hamren Sub Division, ordered the Rangbah Shnong of Madan Umwang village to stop the construction of the building sponsored by the Sericulture department of Meghalaya, he said, “The constant encroachment and harassment by the Assam government inside state boundary of Meghalaya is very saddening.”

He said in this regard the dorbar shnong (Traditiol institution) of Them Marwet Khapara had appraised the CEM KHADC and the KHM had also sent a memorandum to the state government to take necessary action in the matter however the government has remained silent which in turn has given more leeway for Assam government to continue to harass the residents of Khapara.

“In reality all the Khasi MLAs in the state are just mere spectators of the constant encroachment and harassment by the Assam government against people resident along the Meghalaya- Assam boundary,” he said. Stating that the Chief Minister of Assam in the just concluded NEC meeting held in Shillong had expressed his readiness to resolve the inter-state boundary issue with Meghalaya, he said, “The Chief Minister of Assam is only trying to mislead the people of Meghalaya since the encroachment and harassment by the Assam government is still continuing till date.”