SHILLONG:
A delegation of traditional heads from 36 villages under the umbrella of Labang Nongphyllut Pangam Raliang Area Committee are looking forward to see the return of Block I to the state.
Speaking to reporters on Monday after meeting the Deputy Chief Minister, Prestone Tynsong, the general secretary of the committee, M Thaiang, said, “We have proper documents as far as our area is concerned. We are preparing such documents which will be presented at the joint meeting between the chief ministers of Assam and Meghalaya.”
The areas of Labang Nongphyllut Pangam Raliang is better known as Block I, stated to be one of the most sensitive locations as far as interstate border talks are concerned.
Asserting that they are native to Jaintia Hills, Thaiang said, “In 1951, Block I was tagged forcibly with Karbi Anglong which was then known as Mikir and Cachar Hills. Labang Labang Nongphyllut was part and parcel of Jaintia Hills.”
He hoped for a positive result and to have the border settlement as per their desire.
Thaiang yearned to see the villages transferred to Meghalaya and said, “The deputy chief minister strongly believes that the Assam government will release all the Pnar villages to Jaintia Hills.”
Tynsong said the state government will convene a meeting of all stakeholders once the regional committees for the second phase of border talks with Assam are constituted .
He told reporters after the meeting that the delegation has requested the government to ensure 36 Pnar villages under Block-I, are retransferred to Meghalaya.
“I already explained to them to wait till the constitution of the regional committees and by then a meeting will be called with all the stakeholders along with detailed documentations,” he said.
Tynsong said the Meghalaya and Assam chief ministers had already decided to constitute the regional committees within 15 days. “Therefore, it is up to them when they are going to notify the committees,” he added.