Trouble creeping up in Assam-Meghalaya border

A CORRESPONDENT

HOWRAGHAT: After last month's dreaded Mukroh incident, trouble is again creeping up in Assam-Meghalaya border pertaining to West Karbi Anglong autonomous district.

After recommencement of timber smuggling from Mukroh, this time miscreants from across Meghalaya vandalized a portion of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana road, connecting Umlafer with Habang.

According to information received, miscreants knocked down the concrete barrier of an under construction culvert and several posts. They also ruined several concert signboards on Tuesday night. The incident took place at a place near Jalatung village which is very sparsely populated.

Lots of such incidents have taken place since 2018 when the construction of this hilly road began. It all started with an attack on construction workers' camps. Troublemaker elements also torched one road roller at Umpakalam in the same year. In March 2022, one dumper of the construction company was torched at Umliar by troublemakers.

Recently, the Karbi Students' Association, Jirikindeng unit of West Karbi Anglong district alleged that smuggling of valuable wood has resumed from Mukroh and several other areas bordering Meghalaya, which was inactive for a little while after the bloody incident of Mukroh.

The KSA have claimed that the horrific incident which took place centering timber smuggling is still continuing. The students' association has expressed annoyance over the rampant devastation of the natural forest and stoic silence of the authority in allowing the illegality to continue.

The student body expressed serious doubt against the Forest department officials who are responsible for protection of forested areas particularly the susceptible Mukroh and other bordering regions.

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