SHILLONG:
The second day of the Meghalaya Budget Session witnessed heated debate on the inter-state border security issue with Voice of the People Party (VPP) chief and Nongkrem legislator Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit expressing concern on the safety and security of the people living along the border areas, specially Mukroh—which Assam had claimed to be under its jurisdiction.
Replying to Basaiawmoit, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said that there is a need to strengthen the state forces to build up the confidence of the people of Mukroh, and that the government is taking all steps to ensure people living along the border areas feel a sense of security.
The chief minister said in the past 50 years, incidents like Mukroh stemmed from the border issue, the cause of which can be attributed to border resolution which has not been reached.
“That is why the MDA-I government was keen to resolve the border issue…that is why we are firmed and (signed) the MoU. Therefore, we are working towards ensuring that we move forward and are able to resolve the remaining six areas of difference,” Sangma assured.
When Basaiawmoint sought an assurance that the government should not compromise on the safety and security of the people to avoid another firing incident, the chief minister said that the government is taking steps to ensure such incidents are not repeated
“Therefore, we have gone ahead to sanction new outposts, enhance the manpower…,” Sangma said while asserting the importance of communication and coordination with the counterparts to maintain peace and tranquility in the border.
In addition to the existing police stations and outposts, new police stations and police outposts in close proximity to the inter-state border of Assam have also been created, and Deputy Commissioners of the bordering district having areas of difference are in regular touch with their counterpart DCs from Assam, he said.
He said a standard operating procedure (SOP) has also been issued to the Superintendents of Police regarding measures to maintain peace and tranquility in the areas of difference along the inter-state border.
In a same tone, UDP legislator from Mokaiaw, Nujorki Sungoh, urged the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance – 2 government to ensure all 36 villages under Block-I are transferred back to Meghalaya.
“Kindly bring back all the 36 villages to Meghalaya,” he said while referring to the second phase of border talks between the two states of Meghalaya and Assam.
According to him, this is the long pending demand of the people living in these villages.
He said there is no developmental activities happening in the 36 villages due to the dispute.