Assam, Meghalaya farmers resume farming in disputed border area after weeks of conflict

Villagers in Assam and Meghalaya resumed their farming activities in a disputed border area on Wednesday (June 3, 2026), ending weeks of intermittent conflict.

The resumption followed a formula worked out by representatives of the two State governments, who met in the disputed Tapat-Lapangap sector on Tuesday (June 2, 2026) afternoon and brokered peace between residents on either side of the unclear inter-State border.

Tapat is in Assam’s West Karbi Anglong district, and Lapangap is in Meghalaya’s West Jaintia Hills district.

“Our people have started work on the disputed fields today [Wednesday]. It is a huge relief for locals heavily dependent on farming,” Melin Dkhar, a resident of Lapangap, told The Hindu.

“We could not cultivate during the spring season. We hope to make the most of this window of opportunity,” Ms. Dkhar said.

According to the agreement, the Karbi community farmers of Assam would cultivate and tend to their crops in fields claimed by Meghalaya for one agricultural season. In exchange, Meghalaya’s Khasi-Pnar community farmers would cultivate in the fields claimed by Assam.

“This is a temporary arrangement, but we hope the spirit of cooperation displayed during yesterday’s meeting would help strengthen relations between the neighbouring communities and contribute towards a lasting resolution of border-related issues,” Deimonmi Lyngdoh, the head of Lapangap’s traditional community-based organisation, said.

Assam and Meghalaya have had 12 disputed sectors along their 855-km border since 1972, when Meghalaya was carved out of Assam as a full-fledged State. After a series of high-level meetings, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his Meghalaya counterpart, Conrad K. Sangma, signed an agreement in March 2022 to resolve the dispute across six sectors.

Tapat-Lapangap is one of the remaining six sectors that await resolution. 

The dispute in this sector turned ugly in October 2025 when a 45-year-old Karbi man was killed when the villagers clashed over paddy harvesting, attacking each other with stones and catapults. Farming resumed a month later, but a series of minor incidents led to a stand-off in March-April.

Tuliram Ronghang, the chief of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council, led the Assam team, while Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar led the Meghalaya delegation during Tuesday’s (June 2, 2026) meeting.