Shillong, May 14: At least two additional platoons of the SF-10 personnel of the Meghalaya Police have been despatched to the border village of Lapangap in West Jaiñtia Hills to provide security to the villagers.

This was informed by Director General of Police (DGP) Idashisha Nongrang today, a day after hundreds of Lapangap villagers stormed the State secretariat to air their grievances over lack of security especially during the cultivation period.

“There is already one platoon of SF-10 at the moment. Additionally, a day before yesterday we had sent two more platoons. Depending on the situation, we will see whether we need to put in more personnel or not,” she said.

The DGP also informed that a police outpost at Barato was inaugurated on May 9. Barato is about 19 kilometres away from Lapangap.

Stating that Assam’s stance on maintenance of status quo in the disputed areas affects construction of a permanent police outpost at Lapangap, Nongrang said that the Meghalaya Police would see if the situation demands setting up of a camp at the village.

“While they (Assam) have put up their camp, we will see from our side if there is need to put up our camp,” she said.

Nongrang also said that the villagers had raised concern over the level of security.

“They are saying that they haven’t much of support from us. But we have been trying our best,” the DGP said.

According to the Meghalaya police chief, the villagers have told police that their crops were being destroyed at night by miscreants from Assam’s Karbi Anglong.

“It was a very genuine problem for them. The villagers have been saying that while Assam side is not stopping the cultivation. What is happening is that they go for the cultivation but whatever they planted is uprooted during the night. That is the problem which they are facing,” she said.