SHILLONG:
The state government, on November 29, announced the setting up of Border Outposts (BOPs) in seven sensitive areas identified along the inter-state border with Assam.
After chairing a cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said, “We have officially sanctioned and approved seven BOPs in sensitive areas and upgradaton of police outposts in Patharkhmah and Kyrshai in Ri Bhoi and West Khasi Hills district.”
The seven BOPs include Mooriap in East Jaintia Hills, Mukroh and Tihwieh in West Jaintia Hills, Rani (Jirang) in Ri Bhoi and Umwali, Lejadubi and Langpih in West Khasi Hills.
The required manpower and infrastructure will be immediately sanctioned and created.
The outpost will be officially sanctioned for Athiabari in West Khasi Hills, he said.
The cabinet decision came following the November 22 – Assam police firing which killed six persons including five Khasi villagers and one Assam forest guard at Mukroh village in West Jaintia Hills District.
The chief minister informed that for each BOP the expenditure will be roughly Rs 2 crore annually.
“It is about Rs 14 crore of expenditures annually for the 7 BOPs and roughly in the other locations about Rs 3-4 crore. We are looking at this decision leading to an impact of about Rs 17-18 crore…,” he added.
Sangma futher informed that the government will also come up with a second list of BOPs.
“We will be coming up with a second list soon and that will be done after a more detail study is done in Ri Bhoi area. We have asked the DGP to make a visit to those areas and come back with a proposal especially in areas of difference in Block-II area which is mainly falls under Ri Bhoi district,” he said.
The chief minister also maintained that the BOPs will be located in non-areas of difference. These are areas which are going to be very much in locations which already are having police presence and that it is like an upgradation in one way.
For instant, Assam already has a BOP but Meghalaya has only an anti-dacoity camp in Langpih and the same will now be upgraded into a BOP. By doing this, the police forces of both the states can speak to each other and resolve any issues that are there.
“These measures are required to bring back a sense of normalcy and make people confident and safe in their own villages,” he said.
On demand for creation of a separate IPS cadre, Sangma said that the state government will continue to pressurize government of India on the matter.
“I have mentioned many times to the Home Ministry and I have also mentioned this to the Prime Minister and they inform me that they are looking into the matter but we have not able to yet get it done.
We will continue to pressurize government of India that it is in the larger and in the long term interest of both the states that we have our separate cadres,” he said.
If the government will increase the amount of ex-gratia payment to the bereaved families, Sangma however said the government will have to change the entire notings and entire ex-gratia to be given for all cases and hence that will require for an amendment. He assured that additional help will be extended to the affected families.
Sangma also added that the state government is examining the demand to give government jobs to the family members of those killed in the firing incident.
Creation of separate IPS cadre
On demand for creation of a separate IPS cadre, the chief minister said that the state government will continue to pressurise Government of India on the matter.
“I have mentioned many times to the Home ministry and I have also mentioned this to the prime minister and they informed me that they are looking into the matter but we have not able to get it done yet. We will continue to pressurise the Centre that it is in the larger and in the long-term interest of both the states that we have our separate cadre,” he said.
Ex-gratia payment
Sangma, however, stated that if the government increases the amount of ex-gratia payment to the bereaved families, it will need to update all of the notations and ex-gratia to be paid in all situations. As a result, an amendment will be needed. He has assured the bereaved families that more assistance would be given.
Sangma also stated that the state administration is looking into the request for government jobs to be given to the families of those who lost their lives in the firing incident in Mukroh.
