Shillong, Aug. 12: The Joint Action Co-ordination Committee of Meghalaya, comprising several NGOs, and the All Meghalaya Karbi Students’ Association, have urged the Karbi militant outfits operating in the state to “stop perpetrating violence on the Khasi and Pnar tribals”.
The two organisations met here today and resolved to send a representation to chief minister D.D. Lapang and minister for home (police) Robert G. Lyngdoh to look into the alleged atrocities committed on the Khasi and Pnar tribals by the Karbi outfits. These include the United People’s Democratic Solidarity (UDPS) and the Karbi National Volunteers (KNV).
The organisations also agreed to work together to chalk out an amicable solution to the border row with Assam. A joint committee of the two organisations will approach the local headmen of the bordering villages to assist them in finding a solution to the problem.
JACC chairman L. Kharkongor told reporters that three organisations — the Hynniewtrep National Youth Front, Ri Bhoi Youth Federation and the Joint Action Co-ordination Committee of Jaintia Hills — would continue to move different forums to highlight the plight of the Khasis and Jaintias.
Tripura rain
Agartala, Aug. 12: Tripura might fail to reap a good harvest following uneven distribution of rainfall.
Experts warned that this would lead to a sharp fall in agricultural production in the state, which has produced bumper crops for the past couple of years. The farmers here have been dependent on the monsoon since they have little access to irrigation facilities.
Sources in the meteorological office said the pre-monsoon showers have been reasonable, while the official monsoon began in right earnest this year. However, rainfall has been erratic.
The principal scientist in the Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR) in Tripura, M. Datta, said the total rainfall has been 1,374 mm till date as against the expected rainfall of 1,466.4 mm.
