SHILLONG:
Deputy Chief Minister, Prestone Tynsong, on December 9, said that during the second phase of the border talks with Assam, the state government will move for the re-transfer of the Khasi-Pnar villages under Block I and II to Meghalaya.
Tynsong said that Block I and Block II areas are in Assam based on the notification of 1951.
“Based on the notification of 1951 if we do so this shows that Blocks I and II are under administrative control of Assam,” the deputy chief minister said.
Tynsong informed that in Block II which is under Ri-Bhoi there are 22 such villages.
Recently, the Synjuk Ki Rangbah Shnong, Block II met the Deputy Chief Minister and the group had criticised Tynsong for saying that Block II was in Assam.
“The person who said those words is trying to mislead. If that was the case why would the state government list the 22 Khasi-Pnar villages submitted by the traditional heads to us,” Tynsong said.
The Deputy Chief Minister said that some are trying to politicise the issue.
He also said that the state government, like the other stakeholders, wants the whole of Blocks I and II to be retransferred to Meghalaya.
Tynsong said that the government is asking for more documents so that they can claim when they sit to discuss the issue with Assam.
As per official records, in 1951 Blocks I and II (from Jowai subdivision of United Khasi – Jaintia Hills district) were tagged with the United Mikir and North Cachar Hills district for administrative advantages.