SHILLONG:
In an update on the border issues between Meghalaya and Assam, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma announced on September 20 that discussions to resolve the remaining six areas of difference will be held in the first or second week of October. This information came in response to a zero-hour notice presented by VPP MLA Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit from Nongkrem during the Assembly session.
Sangma revealed that Assam’s Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, recently visited Shillong for a function and held private discussions with him concerning the border matter. During this meeting, several decisions were made, and they intend to formalize these decisions during the forthcoming official meeting in October.
Furthermore, Sangma and Sarma have plans to visit Khanduli and other areas to convey messages of peace. The exact locations for these visits are yet to be confirmed, but they aim to meet with local stakeholders to promote harmony.
The Chief Minister described the Shillong meeting as productive and anticipates the implementation of vital decisions reached during the upcoming October meeting.
Earlier, Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit condemned a statement by the Karbi Students Association (KSA) that suggested a “Manipur-like situation” could occur if they lose their land. He expressed concern that such statements could disrupt harmony in the border areas and inquired whether the state government had addressed the issue with its Assam counterpart.
Sangma informed the Assembly that during a regional committee meeting on August 16, 2023, the KSA met with committee members afterward and made the provocative statement. However, Assam’s Minister Piyush Hazarika immediately disapproved of such remarks, emphasizing the committee’s goal of fostering peace and harmony between the communities and finding solutions to border issues.
He also mentioned that on August 30, 2023, the Jaintia Students’ Movement and KSA held a meeting in Diphu, East Karbi Anglong District, Assam, to discuss measures for restoring peace along the Assam-Meghalaya border. During this meeting, they formed the Students Committee for Peace Initiative, which aims to ease communal tensions and normalize life in the border regions.
The committee decided that representatives from both NGOs would visit border villages alongside village elders. A similar meeting is planned in Jowai soon, with the primary objective of ending turmoil in the border areas.
Sangma assured the Assembly that the situation in the region is closely monitored, and efforts are focused on maintaining law and order to prevent any breaches. The district police are on high alert, conducting regular patrols, meeting with village elders and the public, and urging them to maintain peace.
He disclosed that sufficient police personnel have been deployed in Khanduli, Lapngap, Saitsama Outpost, and Nartiang police station to manage law and order in the area. There is also ongoing communication and coordination with Assam counterparts to preserve normalcy in the region.
Sangma concluded by emphasizing the government’s commitment to ensuring peace, harmony, and a permanent resolution of border conflicts. This includes the sanctioning of seven border outposts in different districts, which have contributed significantly to conflict prevention and enhanced police presence in the field. Additionally, ongoing efforts in the first and second phases of border settlement demonstrate the government’s dedication to resolving disputes permanently and maintaining peace in the border areas.