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Two killed in group clash at Lampi

By Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, May 14 � Two persons were killed and several others injured following a clash between members of two groups this afternoon in the disputed Lampi area under Boko police station on the Assam-Meghalaya border in Kamrup district, around 70 kilometres from Guwahati.

Superintendent of Police, Kamrup (Rural) Partha Sarathi Mahanta told The Assam Tribune that the exact reason that led to the clash is yet to be ascertained and the vigil in and around the area has been stepped up.

�Till now, two bodies have been recovered from the area,� Mahanta confirmed, conceding that the death toll may go up.�

The Lampi area, it needs mention here, has been a disputed area for both Assam and Meghalaya and the tension intensified after Assam Government had laid the foundation for a health centre in July 2008.

Another source in the district administration stated that tension prevailed in the area after two persons entered into a brawl on Thursday during the weekly Lampi Bazar. However, official confirmation is still awaited.

Our Shillong Correspondent adds: Two persons were confirmed dead after police opened fire on a mob in disputed Langpih village along the Assam-Meghalaya border. Unofficially, the dead toll has been placed at seven with several injured.

�There is report of police firing in Langpih. We are yet to receive any official confirmation about the number of casualties,� Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said.

He added that a team of officials from West Khasi Hills district administration led by an Additional District Magistrate has already left for Langpih to assess the ground situation and prepare the detailed report on the whole incident.�

�Two bodies have been recovered from the site of the incident,� Director General of Police SB Kakati told the Assam Tribune.

However, former Meghalaya Home Minister Hoping Stone Lyngdoh, who is also the legislator from Nongstoin constituency in West Khasi Hills district under which Langpih falls, said, seven persons, including a school girl died in the firing.

�Seven people, including a school girl have been confirmed dead and many others have been injured after police opened fire at a mob,� he said.

Assam Police stationed in the area reportedly opened fire after clash broke out between residents of the area. Meghalaya Home Minister HDR Lyngdoh admitted of the firing but refused to provide exact details of the incident.

�Assam Police has confirmed us of blank firing, but I am yet to get exact details of the incident,� Lyngdoh said.

After the reported firing, Chief Minister Mukul Sangma called an emergency meeting with the Home Minister, Chief Secretary WMS Pariat, Principal Secretary (Home) CD Kynjing and Director General of Police, SB Kakati and other senior police officials.

Langpih is a stretch of land situated along the Meghalaya-Assam border. Both States claim over the land. However, Assam Police has a police outpost in the area.

Meghalaya claims Langpih village based on revenue records dating back to 1876.

In 1985, the Assam and Meghalaya governments entrusted Justice YV Chandrachud to head a committee of experts for opinion on the constitutional aspects of the boundary demarcation between the two neighbouring States. The committee awarded Langpih to Assam. Meghalaya has rejected the report.

Meghalaya and Assam has 12 areas of difference. Both States have had various rounds of talks to resolve these disputes unsuccessfully over the years.

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