Shillong, Oct 9: Tension flared along the Meghalaya-Assam border on Wednesday after a clash broke out between members of the Pnar and Karbi communities at Lapangap village in West Jaintia Hills during a paddy harvesting operation.
The incident occurred while local residents, under police supervision from both states, were harvesting paddy. Suddenly, a violent confrontation erupted between villagers from Lapangap and Karbi residents from Tahpat in Assam.
One person identified as Orivel Timung (45), a resident of Tahpat in Karbi Anglong, reportedly died during the clash. Authorities clarified that Meghalaya Police did not use excessive force, and the death appeared to have resulted from the physical altercation between the groups.
Meghalaya Police resorted to firing tear gas shells to disperse the mob after the Karbi group advanced toward the Pnar villagers wielding weapons such as machetes and other sharp tools. The police intervention prevented further escalation and potential loss of life.
The situation has since been brought under control, and a case has been registered at Nartiang Police Station
