Security up in Meghalaya after firing kills two

SHILLONG - Security was tightened across Meghalaya Saturday and Chief Minister Mukul Sangma appealed for calm, a day after two people were killed in police firing at the disputed Langpih village on the state’s border with Assam. The incident led to the opposition Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) demanding Sangma’s resignation.

“We have tightened security in vulnerable areas and are assessing the situation,” state Director General of Police S.B. Kakati told IANS.

He said the superintendents of police of all districts had been directed to maintain a strict vigil to prevent any untoward incidents.

Chief Minister Sangma appealed to the public maintain peace, while state Home Minister H.D.R. Lyngdoh rushed to Langpih, which is some 140 km from here, to take stock of the situation.

“I appeal to the people to maintain calm and assist the state government in restoring normalcy,” Sangma said.

On Friday, two people were killed and several others were injured in the firing by Assam Police personnel at Langpih village. The firing began after a clash between tribal Khasis and Garos with Nepali nationals at a weekly market.

Lyngdoh, who represents the Nongstoin assembly constituency under which the Langpih area falls, put the death toll at seven though the police maintained that only two bodies were recovered.

A unit of the powerful Khasi Students’ Union here has, meanwhile, issued a 24-hour quit notice to Nepali residents staying in the area.

“We have issued a 24-hour quit notice to all Nepalese residents in Malki with effect from 10 a.m. for the tragic incident at Langpih,” said union president (Malki unit) Franky Kharumnuid.

The NCP Saturday demanded that Sangma step down over the incident.

“The chief minister has failed the people of the state and he should, therefore, take moral responsibility for what happened. We demand the immediate resignation of the chief minister,” said NCP spokesman James K. Sangma.

The NCP, the main opposition party in Meghalaya, also asked the central government to appoint a judicial enquiry commission to probe the incident.

Langpih village, which is about 60 km from Guwahati in Assam and 140 km from Shillong, has been a bone of contention between Assam and Meghalaya.

In fact, the area often hit headlines after the Assam government laid the cornerstone for a health centre in July 2008.

In 1985, the two state governments entrusted former chief justice of India Y.V. Chandrachud to head a committee of experts on the constitutional aspects of the boundary demarcation between the two states.

Assam claims Langpih based on the recommendations of the Chandrachud committee report. Meghalaya rejected the report.

A boundary committee headed by the chief secretaries of both states has also been formed to amicably resolve the issue.