Shillong: The Hynniewtrep Integrated Territorial Organisation (HITO) has appealed to Union Home Minister Amit Shah to step in amid what it describes as ongoing human rights violations linked to the Assam-Meghalaya border dispute.
In a memorandum submitted to Shah, HITO president Donbok Dkhar called for urgent action to restore peace and justice and to bring about a lasting settlement for communities caught in the decades-old boundary conflict.
Dkhar said the border issue, dating back to Meghalaya’s formation in 1971, has repeatedly triggered violence and instability in border areas.
He criticised the periodic talks between the two states as “superficial” and inadequate in addressing the deep-rooted tensions.
Alleging repeated encroachments by Assam authorities, particularly in areas under the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council, Dkhar termed these actions a “serious breach of regional accords.”
He further accused the Assam government of deploying the Karbi community to obstruct Meghalaya farmers from harvesting their paddy crops, calling it a “clear violation of human rights” that has worsened the plight of already struggling villagers.
While Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has reportedly assured a halt to such actions, Dkhar alleged that armed personnel continue to intimidate residents along the border, undermining those assurances.
“These unlawful acts go against the spirit of the Constitution,” he stated, demanding accountability from those in power, including ministers, officials, and police personnel.
HITO also referred to the 2009 Langpih massacre and the 2022 Mukroh killings as examples of “state-backed aggression” that have left border residents traumatised.
Dkhar further cited the Instrument of Accession and the Annexed Agreement of the Khasi States, saying the Centre’s failure to uphold these legal commitments has resulted in decades of injustice and the erosion of traditional rights of the Hynniewtrep people.
