People in many villages along the Meghalaya border in and around Mendipathar area have been spending sleepless nights for more than five weeks although their villages are yet to witness violence.
Men and youths in the village keep vigil at night while women and children sleep. "We take dinner around seven in the evening and start our patrolling till the morning," said Joraj Rabha.
More than 20 villagers in the bordering villages said TOI that they were still haunted by the nightmare of attack and have been spending the long winter nights by guarding their villages. "No government forces are here to protect us. After seeing the attacks in our neighbouring villages in January, we have been guarding our village all through the nights since January 2," said Umakanta Rabha of Pesapara village bordering Meghalaya.
People of his village said that they have no village defence party (VDP) to protect the villagers at night from an attack. "No police patrolling in these villages at night. Not even the VDP is here," said another villager.
Although the state government assured the villagers of sufficient security yet locals alleged that no security personnel could be seen at night although the people are fearing attack there.
Self defence measures of these villagers are designed in a disciplined manner in Pesapara, Rangdan Pahar Toli and many other villages which were not hit by the tribal clash. According to their village heads, every family has to send one youth or elder person to guard their village every night. "If any family cannot send anyone for the vigilance party, it has to contribute Rs 30 for a single day to the common funds used to develop the villages," said Kanandi Ram Rabha of Pesapara.