Shillong: Meghalaya border residents are collateral damage in a lingering boundary stalemate with Assam. VPP Chief Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit demanded an immediate freeze on new settlements in Langpih and Mawsikar during a special motion in the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly on Tuesday. Farmers cannot wait for slow talks. Basaiawmoit highlighted volatile conditions in Lapangap, Mawsikar, and Langpih, where citizens lack basic services like roads and healthcare. Security is failing. In May 2026, reports surfaced of agricultural huts burnt and crops destroyed in Lapangap, prompting a march of hundreds of villagers to the Meghalaya Secretariat.
Basaiawmoit criticized the June 2026 interim understanding with Assam, claiming it pushed local residents into low-lying areas while Karbi settlers occupy higher hilltops. He demanded a joint survey of Mawsikar and Langpih, verification of land ownership, and a total ban on permanent construction in disputed zones. He also called for government compensation and a permanent border monitoring mechanism. Regarding the pressure on farmers, Basaiawmoit noted, "The border issue is not merely about maps and boundary pillars."
Opposition Leader Mukul Sangma echoed these concerns, focusing on the Indo-Bangladesh border. He warned that physical fencing built inside Indian territory leaves local farmland vulnerable to trespassers from across the border. Sangma demanded proactive security for farmers and faster compensation for land acquired for fencing. He also pressed the government to open stalled border haats at Nadikata, Shibsbari, and Ryngku, noting that funds from the Ministry of Commerce remain unused.
Administrative instability further complicates these regional crises. Sangma criticized the frequent transfer of Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police in districts like North Garo Hills, West Garo Hills, West Khasi Hills, Ri-Bhoi, and the Jaintia Hills. He argued that officials need longer tenures to understand the complexities of border friction. Constant rotation prevents effective local management. Sangma urged the state to keep the right officers in the right places to ensure regional stability.
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