Curfew Imposed in Meghalaya Village After Clash Over Land Dispute
Mawkynrew, Meghalaya: A clash between villagers and police in Mawkynrew village, East Khasi Hills district, has left 13 people injured and prompted authorities to impose a curfew in the area. The violence broke out on Monday when locals stormed the construction site of a school run by the Ramakrishna Mission (RKM), claiming the land belonged to the Mawkynrew Sports Club.
According to East Khasi Hills SP Vivek Syiem, five police personnel, including two women, sustained injuries, while the rest were villagers with minor injuries. Police resorted to firing tear gas shells to control the crowd.
District Magistrate RM Kurbah imposed the curfew on Monday to prevent gatherings of more than five people near the site. Police presence at the location was in compliance with a directive from the high court, as the dispute remains under legal consideration.
An elder from the village explained that the protest was not intended to disrupt construction but to reclaim the land they believe rightfully belongs to the local sports club. The plot was originally allotted to the club in 2012, but villagers claim it was “fraudulently” transferred to the RKM in 2020 and 2021, a decision endorsed by village authorities at the time.
Tanbor Suting, president of the Mawkynrew Sports Club, expressed frustration over the situation, stating, “The villagers are against this fraudulent transfer of land. People are angry due to the delay in justice.” He added that the villagers had gone to the site to set up football goalposts when the clash erupted.
An official from the Ramakrishna Mission described the incident as unfortunate, emphasizing that the school was established to provide education and employment opportunities to the local community.
The curfew remains in effect as authorities work to maintain peace and resolve the ongoing land dispute.
News Source : “Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.”
