On Wednesday, Rangbah Shnong of Umsaw Lum Durbar, Paul Star Lyngdoh alleged that the Assam Forest Department had moved into Meghalaya and “illegally” fenced off the agricultural land of Khasi villagers.
A policeman from Mawlasnai outpost and a magistrate visited the spot and submitted a report. A report has been sent to take legal action in this regard.
The Assam Forest Department accused the villagers of destroying the fence on December 11 but Lyngdoh said they were not responsible.
“We lost our agricultural land due to encroachment by the Assam Forest Department,” said Lyngdoh.
He suspected that it could be a ploy by the Assam Police to prevent villagers from going to their agricultural land. He appealed to the state government to help them get their land back. “How will we survive if we are not allowed to get our agricultural produce?” Rangbah Shang asked.