Our Correspondent
Diphu, July 11 (EMN): There is ruckus in Karbi Anglong in Assam after a signboard was damaged, and replaced with another, by persons from an area in Meghalaya. The small incident points to border tensions between the two states.
Reports on Wednesday said that the persons damaged a sign board that was stated to have been erected by the range officer of Umjakini Range in West Karbi
Anglong at Sabuda Forest, and replaced it with another.
An executive member of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council Pradip Rongpi said what happened yesterday at Sabuda cannot be tackled by the council alone as it ‘concerns with the law and order.’
According to sources on July 10 people from Ribhoi district of Meghalaya reportedly entered Sabuda area in West Karbi Anglong by motorbikes and damaged the sign board and replaced it with another sign board they brought. The original sign board read: “Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council----Welcome to West Karbi Anglong. Help us to protect the environment.”
The sign board was erected during the previous year’s observation of ‘Vana Mahatsava’ by the Forest department during a plantation event.
The persons are said to have erected another sign board reading: ‘Sabuda Raid Nonglung Ri-bhoi district, Meghalaya.’ Sabuda is an area bordering the inter-state border between Meghalaya and Assam in West Karbi Anglong.
On the other hand the deputy commissioner of West Karbi Anglong, Debojyoti Hazarika, informed that the second signboard was removed on Wednesday by Forest staff, and seized by the police of Ulukunchi outpost. A meeting is scheduled to be conducted on July 20 between Meghalaya and Assam authorities and discuss the border issue.
