By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Speakers representing various political parties and NGOs who attended the meeting convened by the Government to discuss the long pending inter-State boundary dispute with Assam have emphasized on the need to provide security to the villagers residing along the inter-State border with Assam.
They also suggested that the Government should push more developmental projects to villages along the border.
Nongkrem legislator and People’s Movement leader Ardent M Basaiawmoit said the State Government should take all possible measures to ensure the security of the villagers residing along the inter-State border.
“We do not want to see our people in the borders subjected to harassment and atrocities. This should be stopped at any cost,” Basiawmoit said while speaking during the meeting on Thursday.
“If atrocities and harassment on the villagers continues they would be left with no option but to intensify their agitation to voice their opposition against this unwanted action against our people,” he said
Echoing the same views, Leader of Opposition Conrad K Sangma insisted that the security of the villagers along the inter-State border should be a top priority of the Government.
“We should also take pro-active steps to ensure the villagers are not subjected to any harassment and atrocities. The only way we can stop such harassment and atrocities is by setting up police stations in all sensitive locations along the inter-State border,” Sangma said.
He reiterated that it is the duty of the State Government to set up police stations for the safety and security of its people, no matter what Assam says.
Sangma also suggested the need for an Inter-State Border Development department to oversee the implementation of various developmental projects along the inter-State border.
The NCP leader said the Government should try to construct better roads along the borders.
Prominent social activist and member HSPDP, Rev PBM Basiawmoit said that the Government should try to regain the confidence of the people residing along inter-State border by taking stringent measures to ensure their safety and security.
KSU president Daniel Khyriem also stressed that the security of the villagers along the inter-State border should be properly assessed while adding that the local villagers should not again be subjected to various atrocities and harassment.
Khyriem also suggested for setting up of police outposts and police station in certain sensitive areas along the inter-State border.
He also said that all these years, the State Government has adopted a step-motherly treatment towards the people residing along the borders.
“I think there is something wrong in the process of governance. The Government should give a fresh look to provide better governance to the villagers along the border by pumping more developmental programmes in the near future,” Khyriem said.
Summing up the deliberations, Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma also admitted that there is need to strengthen the security of the people residing along the inter-State border.
“We are also concerned about the atrocities and harassment meted out against our own people,” Dr Mukul said adding that the State is facing a huge shortage of police personnel.
“The Government is exploring ways and means to increase the number of police personnel in the State,” the Chief Minister said while also informing that Government is also looking at upgrading the police outposts into police stations and also setting up more police outposts in the State.
Meanwhile, Dr Mukul said that the Government would also work out a new strategy for pumping more development programmes to villages in the inter-State border.
“The Government had allocated funds for development of the border villages in the last fiscal year. But I admit that more funds need to be pumped in,” the Chief Minister added.