Against Assam militant group, Jaintia student group will take action
The Jaintia Students’ Movement (JSM) has threatened to resort to drastic action if the United People’s Front of Karbi Longri (UPFKL) continues to harass the Pnar community in Block-I area.
In a letter to the Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma, on Wednesday, JSM president LS Rymbai said, “(We) vehemently urge you to impress upon your counterpart the Chief Minister of Assam to ensure high level of security cover to the Pnar community in Block-I as the JSM will not hesitate to resort to any drastic actions if the United People’s Front of Karbi Longri (UPFKL) extort or harass the Pnar community in Block-I.”
Rymbai said Assam police had recently arrested two cadres of the UPFKL in West Karbi Anglong fistrict and there is strong possibility that this new Karbi militant outfit will again extort from the Pnar community in Block-I and terrorise them in one form or the other so that they will not dare to voice their demand for return to Meghalaya like the previous Karbi militant outfits.
He also recalled that in 1951 for administrative convenience, Block-I & II under the then Jowai Civil Sub Division were tagged to United Mikir Hills district by the then governor of composite Assam and due to unknown reasons, there was no decision to retransfer/return Block-I & II to Meghalaya, when it was created in 1972.
“Since 1951, the Pnar community has been subjected to numerous harassment and atrocities either at the hand of the law enforcing agency or the Karbi militant outfit making their life miserable on the one hand and strengthening their spirit for demanding the return of their villages to Meghalaya,” the JSM president said.
In 2004, several hundred people from the Pnar community shifted to Sahsniang under Laskein C&RD Block.
West Jaintia Hills district for fear of their lives from the Karbi militant outfits, who subjected the Pnars to various forms of tortures and harassment, including extortion and elimination for petty reasons, he said.
Assam Police arrested the two members of the nascent UPFKL on July 30. They were identified as Sanjay Ingtih and Rajesh Phangcho from Jrikyndeng village in the disputed Block I. Police also found several demand notes in their possession.
The group has reportedly attracted more than 500 youths to join them. Their intention appears to be creating fear among the Pnars living in the area and forcing them to leave Block I.
