Meghalaya- Assam dispute over cemetery
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The Garo Students’ Union (GSU), Khasi Hills Zone (KHZ), Shillong has appealed to Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma to resolve the forceful occupation and establishment of a police outpost by Assam Government at Maikhuli graveyard of Jirang constituency.
In a letter, Rondon K Momin, president, GSU (KHZ) sought the chief minister’s intervention to resolve the long-pending border dispute.
The president said the inhabitants of Maikhuli village had been living there since the early part of 20th century and are Christians — Baptist and Catholic. “Since 1935, until the year 2000 the village community has been using a two and a half acre plot of land as a common graveyard of both the churches. The community enjoyed peaceful possession of the said land without any disturbances until the forceful occupation and establishment of a police outpost at a portion of the land in 2000 by Assam Government,” said the president in his letter.
“The ownership of the said plot of land was confirmed by the “Syiem Raid Marwet” who had issued a “Dulir Khyndew” in favour of the Baptist and Catholic Churches of Maikhuli on March 25, 1975.
He further alleged that in 2000 the Assam government forcibly established a police outpost over a portion of the said graveyard and thereafter the police did not allow the villagers to use the burial ground.
Meghalaya government also set up a temporary police camp at Maikhuli. according to the village elders it was decided in the joint meeting of the Chief Ministers of Meghalaya and Assam in June 2002 to remove both the outpost and camp. In pursuance of that decision ………by Meghalaya Government, but to their dismay there was no reciprocal action from Assam. Their police outpost contineus to function till date,” the president said.
The GSU (KHZ) urged the government to resolve the matter immediately.
