Concerns Rise Over Alleged Support for Meghalaya in Assam's Garo Villages

In Assam's Garo-dominated villages, allegations have surfaced regarding middlemen attempting to sway local support towards Meghalaya during the ongoing census. Residents of Ukiam and Borghuli have reportedly resisted cooperating with census officials, raising concerns among local leaders. Jawahar R Marak, a member of the Garo Development Council, has called for an investigation into these claims, emphasizing that the majority of residents still support Assam. The situation highlights the complexities of identity and allegiance in border regions, as some individuals allegedly intimidate others to shift their support. This unfolding scenario underscores the need for careful monitoring and intervention by authorities.

By Narendra Chaudhary Aug 31, 2026, 10:39 IST

Allegations of Middlemen Influence

A file image of a teacher on his way aboard a boat to conduct Census duty. (Picture used for representational purpose)

PALASBARI, Aug 31: Recent allegations have emerged suggesting that certain middlemen are trying to depict Garo-majority Assamese villages near the Assam-Meghalaya border in south Kamrup as staunch supporters of Meghalaya.

Reports indicate that some inhabitants of Garo-dominated villages in the Ukiam region have resisted the ongoing census in Assam, opting not to assist the census officials. Residents from Ukiam and Borghuli have reportedly declined to share family information with census workers, complicating the enumeration efforts. Census personnel have raised this issue with local revenue authorities.

The border area includes several Garo-majority Assamese villages such as Ukiam, Borghuli, Natun Gaon, Noonmati, Umthuli, Gambal Chiring, Biorangding, Dalimara, Maudangap, Umkamdal, Warigar, Dighalbil Garopara, and Daledonga.

While some residents in these villages have shown support for Meghalaya for a while, this situation has gained prominence during the current census.

Jawahar R Marak, a member of the State government’s Garo Development Council, expressed his worries regarding the alleged non-cooperation of some Ukiam and Borghuli residents with Assam’s census officials.

Marak emphasized that Ukiam and other Garo villages along the border were part of Assam when Meghalaya was established as a separate state in 1972. He noted that the river Sri at Ukiam has historically defined the boundary between the two states. He highlighted that Ukiam, the nearest revenue village to the inter-state border, falls under the Bongaon mouza of the Chhaygaon revenue circle.

“If Ukiam is recognized as an Assamese village, how did the Garo villages located several kilometers within Assam become part of Meghalaya?” he questioned.

Marak asserted that approximately 95% of the villagers still support Assam, but a minority is allegedly trying to sway the majority towards Meghalaya.

He called on the Assam government to take these allegations seriously and investigate, particularly regarding the suspected involvement of middlemen.

Further allegations have surfaced against certain individuals from Umthuli, located about eight kilometers from Ukiam, who are reportedly facilitating communication with Meghalaya for years. During a visit to the border area, local residents voiced these concerns.

According to the claims, some individuals designated as sardars by the Meghalaya government in Garo villages have formed groups with a few supporters in their respective areas. These groups allegedly discourage residents from backing Assam and, at times, resort to intimidation tactics.

Local residents have also alleged that members of these groups receive contracts for implementing projects in exchange for their support of Meghalaya. They further claimed that under this influence, some Garo residents in the border villages have become hesitant to use documents like ration cards, voter ID cards, PAN cards, and Aadhaar cards issued in Assam, showing a preference for those issued by Meghalaya.

Additionally, some residents claimed that Forest Rights Committees have not been established in these villages under the Forest Rights Act, despite tribal communities having resided in the forest areas for generations.

Several Umthuli residents informed this correspondent that many individuals from the village have successfully registered forest land in Assam under the jurisdiction of the Meghalaya government’s Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council.