Guwahati: A group of more than 100 people from Assam allegedly entered Maikhuli Field along the Assam-Meghalaya border on Saturday after removing a partly cemented wall behind Maikhuli Upper Primary School.
The group then locked the field’s entrance gate, stopping villagers from entering the area, and was allegedly led by Mintu Boro of Bakrapara in Assam.
Villagers reacted by forcing the locked gate open and breaking the lock after the group from Assam entered the field. A scuffle followed between the two sides, according to police.
Police personnel from Pillangkata Outpost and Basistha Mandir Outpost then intervened and pushed the Assam-side residents back towards Assam, Ri-Bhoi Superintendent of Police Giri Prasad said.
Magistrates and senior police officers from both States later reached the area to prevent any further confrontation.
The officials at the spot included Additional Superintendents of Police from Assam and Meghalaya, M. Marngat, DySP (T), Nongpoh, and the officer-in-charges of Khanapara and Basistha police stations. CRPF personnel and available police forces were also deployed in the area.
The SP said forces were placed on both sides of the Assam-Meghalaya boundary as a precaution after the intervention.
The situation was brought under control after police and senior officials from Assam and Meghalaya intervened, Giri Prasad said.
Security personnel continued to patrol the area, and police said there was no further confrontation and the situation remained peaceful.