Shillong, May 14, 2026: Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar on Wednesday announced that the state government will deploy additional security personnel at Lapangap village along the Assam-Meghalaya interstate border to ensure that farming activities continue without disruption amid rising tensions in the area.
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| Security personnel attempt to control protesters during a march by Lapangap villagers and pressure groups demanding protection over border tensions and farming disruptions along the Assam-Meghalaya border in Shillong on Wednesday. |
The assurance came after hundreds of villagers from Lapangap in West Jaintia Hills district staged a protest march to the Secretariat in Shillong, demanding protection from alleged harassment and crop destruction by groups from Assam’s Karbi Anglong district.
The protest was led by the Dorbar Shnong of Lapangap village and supported by several organisations, including the Khasi Students’ Union, Jaintia National Council and Jaintia Students’ Union.
Speaking to reporters after meeting the delegation, Dhar said the government would take all necessary steps to protect the villagers and maintain peace in the border area. He clarified that the immediate concern was safeguarding livelihoods and cultivation activities rather than addressing the larger interstate boundary dispute.
“They came seeking intervention because some Karbi groups were troubling them, and we have assured them that additional security forces will be deployed from tomorrow to ensure that cultivation activities continue without any disturbance,” Dhar said.
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He added that incidents of tension had surfaced as farmers resumed cultivation in the area. According to Dhar, deputy commissioners from both Meghalaya and Assam have already initiated discussions, although further talks are still required.
The Deputy Chief Minister also stated that Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma would soon take up the matter with the Assam government following the formation of the new government in the neighbouring state.
The protest march saw hundreds of villagers and supporters travelling from West Jaintia Hills to Shillong. Police attempted to stop the demonstrators near the office of the Superintendent of Police in East Khasi Hills district, leading to a brief standoff between security personnel and protesters. However, representatives of the Dorbar Shnong and pressure groups were later allowed to enter the Secretariat for talks with Dhar.
Speaking after the meeting, KSU Nartiang Circle president Chanbor War alleged that repeated meetings between the administrations of West Jaintia Hills and West Karbi Anglong had failed to produce any concrete resolution.
The ongoing tensions have once again highlighted the unresolved border disputes between Meghalaya and Assam. Talks between the regional committees constituted by both states to resolve the remaining six disputed areas have remained stalled for the past several years.
