Assembly against redefining border with Meghalaya
GUWAHATI: THE Assam Government has decided against constitution of an inter-state border dispute commission to re-examine and redefine the boundary between Assam and Meghalaya.
The State Assembly, on the first day of its Winter Session on Monday, adopted a unanimous resolution that there was ”no need to constitute a boundary commission to re-examine and redefine the inter-state boundary between Assam and Meghalaya on the basis of historical, ethnic and linguistic linkages”.
Minister of State (Independent charge) Border Areas Siddique Ahmed, moving the resolution, pointed that a committee, headed by Justice YV Chandrachudhad already looked into the border dispute and submitted its report on July 27, 1987.
Another member of the committee was Justice V S Despande.
He stated that Assam did not support a new commission on the same matter.
The Meghalaya Assembly had a few months back adopted a resolution, asking the Centre to form a commission to demarcate the boundary with Assam.
The two states have contentious borders, and skirmishes are also often reported from the disputed boundaries.
Tackling insurgency: Meanwhile, the Assam government has expressed its seriousness to maintain law and order and tackling insurgency.
Replying to a question by Monilal Gowala in the State assembly on Monday, Forest minister Rockybul Hussain, on behalf of Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said, the government was aware of the extortion demands made by various militant outfits, including pro-talk factions.
In South Assam’s Karimganj district, the minister said some splinter extremist groups of Riang community and the United Democratic Liberation Army of Barak Valley (UBLABV) were found to have indulged in activities like killing and kidnapping in the remote areas bordering Mizoram and Tripura.
In order to contain and monitor insurgent activities, the government was planning to raise a Border Out Post (BOP) at Balitipla bordering Tripura very soon, he said. Apart from the police, the CRPF personnel were conducting regular patrolling duty in the extremist-infested areas and holding meetings with village headmen and Village Defence Parties (VDP), he said. (Agencies)