HITO Urges Assam to Prevent Potential Highway Blockade by Hindu Group Over Mawjymbuiñ Dispute

Guwahati: The Hynñiewtrep Integrated Territorial Organization (HITO) has urgently appealed to Assam’s Chief Secretary, urging immediate action to avert a potential blockade of the Meghalaya-Assam highway by Hindu right-wing groups. The blockade, allegedly planned by the Kutumba Suraksha Parishad, is connected to the ongoing dispute over Mawjymbuiñ and threatens to disrupt crucial transportation links between the two states.In its letter, HITO raised serious concerns about the potential negative impact on regional peace. The organization emphasized that the Mawjymbuiñ issue, tied to local customs and traditions, should be settled through the DorbarShnong system, the traditional council of the Hynñiewtrep community. HITO also reminded officials about the Khasi States’ Instrument of Accession (IOA), which affirms the community’s rights over their ancestral lands.HITO warned that allowing the blockade could heighten tensions and spark violence, especially in Shillong, which is home to many non-tribal Hindu residents. The group stressed that such a situation would threaten the region’s stability and harmony.The call for action comes after a Hindu organization demanded the reopening of the Mawjymbuin Cave for Hindu religious rituals, issuing a 10-day ultimatum for resolution. HITO’s statement underscores the fragile balance between traditional land governance and state policies in this sensitive region.