SHILLONG:
Chief minister Conrad Sangma has informed that following objection from the people in Ri Bhoi, the Assam government has agreed to remove boundary pillars from Umshru village in the district.
“The day this incident was reported, I had a talk with the Assam chief minister over the phone. He informed me that he personally was not aware of this particular exercise and categorically said that he will take necessary steps to instruct officials to stop such exercises and to remove such pillars from these areas,” said Sangma, replying to a call attention moved by Nongkrem legislator Lambor Malngiang in the Assembly, on March 16.
Stating that it is very important to maintain the trust while talks on the border resolution is on, Sangma said, “Therefore, let me assure that we (Assam chief minister and I) are maintaining close contact and any issues that could create any kind of disturbance is being monitored at the top level.”
Sangma said the matter came to the notice of the deputy commissioner, Ri Bhoi on March 13, who immediately took up the matter with his counterpart in Assam, the deputy commissioner of Kamrup (Rural).
As informed by the DC Kamrup, the government of Assam is doing a cadastral survey for non-cadastral villages in all the districts of Assam. Under this initiative, survey was done in the Assam side near Umshru village of Ri Bhoi district and based on that, the pillars were erected, he said.
Further, the DC Kamrup (Rural) clarified that these pillars in no way demarcate the boundary of Assam and Meghalaya and that this exercise has nothing to do with the Meghalaya-Assam boundary resolution, Sangma added.
However, the DC, Ri Bhoi informed the counterpart that this can potentially mislead and create confusion regarding the Assam–Meghalaya border and therefore requested to remove the pillars immediately.
Based on the request, the officials from Assam removed three pillars and another one was removed by some unidentified persons, Sangma said, adding that the matter has been taken up by the deputy commissioner Kamrup (Rural) and he has been assured that other pillars located in other areas too will be removed.
Meanwhile, the chief minister informed that the police department has taken up measures to prevent any untoward incidents in the areas, which include extensive patrolling. The officers and personnel of Jirang anti-dacoity camp too have been instructed to maintain strict vigilant in the area.
According to him, the overall situation in the inter-state border areas is largely peaceful and the police and district administration are closely monitoring them.
