Shillong, October 20: The Hynniewtrep Integrated Territorial Organization (HITO) has sought the intervention of Union Home Minister Amit Shah into the alleged human rights violations along the Assam-Meghalaya border and urged him to take action to restore peace and order in the region. In a letter submitted to Shah through the Meghalaya Governor today, HITO stated, “We implore you to treat this matter with the seriousness and urgency it warrants. Immediate intervention is essential not only to restore peace and order but also to provide justice and long-term solutions for all affected communities along the Assam-Meghalaya border.”
The Assam-Meghalaya border dispute has been ongoing since Meghalaya’s establishment in 1971, resulting in violent clashes, loss of life, and economic distress for residents on both sides. Despite dialogue between the two state governments, the issues remain unresolved, with the Assam government allegedly making incursions into Meghalaya’s territory and obstructing local farmers from harvesting their crops.
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HITO accused the Assam government of state-sponsored aggression, citing incidents like the Langpih Massacre in 2009 and the Mukroh Massacre in 2022. They also alleged that the Assam government, leveraging Karbi tribe men, obstructed local farmers in Meghalaya from harvesting their paddy crops, trampling on human rights and causing severe economic ramifications.
“Despite pledges from Assam’s Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, indicating a commitment to cease these aggressive actions, his assurances have proven to be disingenuous. The deployment of armed Karbi militant outfits to intimidate and harass local residents is not only unlawful but an affront to the constitutional principles that govern this nation. Such actions must not go uninvestigated, and those responsible be they government ministers, bureaucrats, or police personnel must be held accountable for their misconduct,” the organization stated.
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HITO also highlighted that the Hynniewtrep territories are bound by the terms laid out in the conditional Instrument of Accession and the Annexed Agreement of the Khasi States, a covenant that the Indian Government is yet to honour as part of its national commitments for over 75 years. “This neglect and violation of human rights has led to continuous injustice against the Hynniewtrep people and their traditional leaders, who have been deprived of their rights and autonomy,” it added.
(Newmai News Network)