Assam-Meghalaya border row: After 12 days of tension, villages sign peace pact to restore calm and allow harvest

After nearly two weeks of simmering tension along the Assam–Meghalaya border, hope returned to the foothills of West Karbi Anglong on Monday as villagers from both sides came together to sign a peace agreement. The pact between the Karbi villagers of Tapat in Assam’s West Karbi Anglong district and the Khasi-Pnar villagers of Lapangap in Meghalaya’s West Jaintia Hills has paved the way for peace, reconciliation, and the resumption of stalled harvest activities in the disputed border area.

The truce comes 12 days after violent clashes on October 9, when a confrontation over harvesting rights turned deadly. The incident left one person, Oriwel Timung of Tapat village, dead, and over 30 others injured, including Stanwel Timung, who remains under medical care.

According to local reports, the clashes erupted when a group of Khasi-Pnar villagers from Lapangap, accompanied by Meghalaya Police personnel, attempted to harvest paddy in a disputed field. Villagers from Tapat and neighbouring areas objected, claiming that the harvesting violated a previous understanding that crop cutting would only begin after permission was granted for tree plantation activities by Karbi landholders. The disagreement quickly spiralled into violence, deepening mistrust between the two communities.

The peace accord, signed on Monday in the presence of administrative officials from both states, marks a significant step toward restoring normalcy. Under the agreement, both sides have committed to peaceful coexistence, to harvest crops without interference, and to cooperate with law enforcement agencies in bringing the perpetrator of the October 9 killing to justice.

West Karbi Anglong District Commissioner Sarangapani Sarma, who played a key role in brokering the truce, said the meeting focused on rebuilding trust and ensuring safety for both sides. “No politics here — our goal is to return to the peaceful coexistence we shared for generations,” he said. “It has been agreed that the culprit behind the killing will be handed over to Assam authorities and dealt with under the provisions of the law.”

Sarma emphasized that time was running out for harvesting. “We cannot wait for endless meetings while crops stand in the fields,” he said. “The paddy belongs to families from both Tapat and Lapangap. It is their livelihood, and it cannot wait. Both sides have agreed to begin harvesting immediately and peacefully.”

Officials from the West Jaintia Hills administration, including the border magistrate and a legal representative, also assured full cooperation in identifying and handing over the accused responsible for the violence.

The peace meeting, held at Khanduli in Assam, was attended by senior officials, including West Karbi Anglong Superintendent of Police Indranil Baruah, Additional SP F. Borbhuya, local leaders, and representatives of community organizations such as the Karbi Students’ Association (KSA).

While the accord has brought relief to the tense border region, some villagers in Tapat expressed cautious optimism, saying they hoped this peace would last and not merely be a temporary truce. A follow-up meeting among representatives from both states and the affected villages is expected soon to formalise implementation of the agreement and ensure accountability for the October 9 incident.

For now, as the golden paddy fields sway again in the autumn breeze, both communities hope the spirit of cooperation will hold — restoring not just their crops, but their long-shared peace.