Shillong: Farmers in Lapangap village returned to their fields on Thursday under the protection of Meghalaya Police. The move marks a significant easing of tensions in the contested border region following a recent interim agreement between Meghalaya and Assam.
The current arrangement follows a high-level meeting held at the Assam Police Camp earlier this week. Officials from both states, including ministers and senior bureaucrats, finalized the deal after previous discussions between Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. The agreement ensures that Lapangap residents can maintain paddy cultivation in the foothills, while villagers from Tahpat in Karbi Anglong continue to harvest crops on the hilltops.
This resolution serves to maintain the status quo and protect local livelihoods until a permanent border settlement is reached. Members of the Khasi Students Union Lapangap unit credited the prompt intervention of Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar for the outcome. A local representative stated, "the move has come as a relief for local cultivators who faced uncertainty in recent weeks amid renewed tensions over the interstate boundary."
The progress follows a failed attempt to reach a consensus during a district-level meeting on May 18. With the current police presence in place, residents remain optimistic that this agreement will sustain peace while broader diplomatic negotiations continue.
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