Shillong: Tension exploded in Maikhuli village on Saturday morning. A group from Assam moved into the area around 10.30 a.m. to stake a claim on Meghalaya land. They blocked the access road to the village playground with bamboo barricades and slapped a lock on the gate. These individuals also smashed parts of a school wall and the local boundary fence.
Local women spotted the group and moved in to challenge them. The argument turned physical fast. The residents eventually broke the lock and tore down the bamboo barriers. Ri-Bhoi district officials and senior police officers arrived soon after to calm the crowd. No major violence occurred after authorities intervened.
Maikhuli residents report that this is not an isolated event. They face constant interference from across the border, which puts their safety and land rights at risk. Leaders from the Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People from Raid Marwet visited the village to stand with the residents. The group praised the women for their quick defense of local territory. The FKJGP stated, "The organisation commended the women for confronting what it described as an attempt to interfere with the village’s land and territorial boundaries." They are now demanding more police patrols to secure the border and stop future incursions.
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