Guwahati, October 10: A Karbi man was killed on Thursday in a violent clash between villagers along the Assam-Meghalaya border, just three days after the Inter-State Border Peace Committee had resolved to suspend all agricultural activities in the disputed area.
The deceased has been identified as Orivel Tinumg (45), a resident of Tapat village under Donka sub-division of West Karbi Anglong district in Assam. The clash reportedly erupted when a group from Lapangap village under Meghalaya’s West Jaintia Hills allegedly began harvesting paddy in the disputed stretch, prompting resistance from locals of Tapat.
As tensions escalated, police intervened and resorted to tear gas shelling to disperse the crowd and restore order. Several individuals reportedly sustained injuries during the confrontation, according to police sources.
The disputed border area has been tense for months, with recurring skirmishes and arson incidents linked to paddy harvesting and land claims. On October 6, the Inter-State Border Peace Committee had formally resolved to halt agricultural activities until a permanent settlement could be achieved.
Earlier in July, Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar, while visiting the area following incidents of arson, had assured that the state government would take up the matter with Assam authorities to prevent further violence.
Meanwhile, hours after Thursday’s incident, Assam’s Border Protection and Development Minister Atul Bora convened a departmental review meeting to assess the implementation of the Annual Action Plan for FY 2025–26.
The meeting, attended by senior officials including Joint Secretary Madhumita Nath and Director Subhalaxmi Deka, focused on strategies to restore normalcy and strengthen coordination between border communities.
In a post on social media, Bora emphasized the government’s commitment to peace, stating, “Lasting peace and stability along inter-state border areas will greatly benefit people on both sides and pave the way for accelerated development.”
The disputed stretch—referred to as Block I by Meghalaya—is claimed by both states. Meghalaya asserts historical ownership of the land, while it is currently administered by the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) in Assam.
