SHILLONG, Dec 4 ? Fresh ethnic violence between the Karbi and Kuki in Assam?s Karbi Anglong district has halted the process of rehabilitation of over 4000 displaced Khasi-Pnar people now staying in camps in Meghalaya?s Jaintia hills for the last three weeks following threats of militants there, reports PTI.
?Since there is a problem going on, they (displaced Khasi-Pnars) want to be here (in Meghalaya) for some more time,? Deputy Commissioner of Jaintia Hills district L Kharkongor told PTI here over phone adding only 34 people have so far returned to their villages in Block-I and Block-II areas.
After staying in camps for over three weeks, the Khasi-Pnar people, who fled their home from Karbi Anglong area of Assam after being threatened and harassed by two Karbi militants, started returning to their villages from Monday last following security arrangements.
Asked if the Khasi-Pnars refused to go back as a cluster of social organisations was insisting on joint patrolling and deployment of central forces to ensure security for the displaced people, the DC said, ?They have not refused.?
?They actually want to be here for some more time as the bandh is going on. It is a matter of time but not the question of refusal,? she insisted. Kharkongor replied in the negative when asked if water supply and electricity lines to the makeshift camps were disconnected by the district administration, as claimed by some social bodies, to ?force? the displaced people to leave.