HBDRF seek MHRC’s intervention into human rights violation against people of Labang Nangphyllut

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJanuary 8, 2025

The Hynniewtrep Border Disputed Redressal Forum (HBDRF) on Tuesday sought the intervention of the Meghalaya Human Rights Commission (MHRC) into the alleged human rights violation by the Assam side on the people of Labang Nangphyllut in West Jaintia Hills district. 

In a letter to the chairperson of MHRC, the forum said, “…we urge upon the National Human Rights Commission to intervene on the matters as soon as possible so that the State Government or the Central Government may have their concern on these people.”

It said between the years of 2000 to 20017 -18 the people of Labang Nangphyllut faced a lot of aggression by the Karbis militant group known as Karbi National Volunteer (KNV) Karbi People Liberation Tigers (KPLT) Karbi Longri Raikom Asong (KLRA) United People Democratic Solidarity (UPDS) etc. 

“These outfit militant groups demand Rupees of 1000 to 5000 every household as House Tax every year. They also highly demand for those who have Paddy field land and cattle’s as Cows Buffaloes etc. They enter into the villages grabbed their property as cattle’s as chicken, goats, cow, pig, rice, vegetables etc. They doing sexual harassment against women and children, they also beaten and assaulted young boys and an elder person without any faults and reasoned mercilessly,” the letter stated.

It further said that due to these criminal o acts of these Karbi militants the people of this area had to left their heart and home and flee to Sahsniang village in the month of August 2003 known as, “Sahsniang Refugee”. This refugee known across the country through the news and other communications. 

“On this time, both of Assam and Meghalaya Chief Ministers, Dr, D.D Lapang from Meghalaya and P. K Mahanta from Assam promise the people of Labang Nangphyllut at Refugee Camp to settle the border issue and to re- transfer this part of land to the state of Meghalaya but not accomplished,” it said while adding “When they return to their home and villages from these camps, almost of their houses has been destroyed, their paddy fields their farmland has been damaged and all their properties and belonging has been lost. They confront a great trouble because they have no shelter no clothes no food and most of the people died in hunger and starves.   Among all these suffer and grieves they didn’t receive any help or assist from the Government.”

 The Forum said that the same incidents occurred in the months of July and August 2015, insequences of the mobs’ attack seized by the Karbis. against the Khasi Jaiñtia. Thousands of Karbis enters into the Khasi villages at Madan myn-i ,   Mooriap , Mookhim and   attack’ them  brutally. This time too, the Khasi Jaiñtia had to flee to the nearby villages of Meghalaya at Mooluber,  Khanduli , Lapangap, Saitsama , Namdong at Jowai.

It said “all these situations and anxieties happen to the people of Labang Nangphyllut just because the State of Assam violate the provision of the Constitution of India soon after it was promulgated on 26th January 1950. In respect of part -X (Article – 244) and Part -XII (Article 275) these two parts of the Constitution along with the fifth and sixth schedule adequately provided for the protection and fiscal assistance to the Schedule and Tribal areas of the country.”

 “But the then Assam Government had political meddled with the Tribal area set part of the Jaiñtia against the provision and geo-polity of the Hills Tribes in the North Eastern Region hardly fifteen months after the Indian Constitution come into force. To maintain peace, harmony and development in the border area both the States Government of Assam and Meghalaya constitute the Status Quo. According with the Status Quo both the Governments should bring development, and implementation of Grants, Scheme and Projects should not be disturbed neither from Meghalaya or Assam,” the letter stated while adding ” But it was useless and meaningless even after 77 years of being as an Indian but the people of this area are still living as before thousand years ago. Most of the he villages mentioned above have no any Lower Primary Schools. 98% of the people are illiterate and cannot even how to read and write their name. All of them earn their living by hard work as the farmers. They didn’t receive any development facilities from the Government. No Roads and Transport Connection. No Electricity. No Schools or Colleges, No Health facilities. No shop or market nearby. No Proper Drinking waters. No footpath nor any kinds of Grants and Schemes.”