Full-strength KHADC team to inspect disputed border areas soon
SHILLONG: Members of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council – both from the ruling side and the opposition – have unanimously resolved to impress upon the State Government to take adequate steps to ascertain safety and security of people residing in the villages in Block-II along the disputed inter-state border of Meghalaya and Assam, including establishment of more police outposts.
“All the 29 MDCs in the KHADC will meet Chief Minister Mukul Sangma in the next few days to impress upon him the need to accord priority to the safety and security of the villagers residing along the inter-state border,” KHADC CEM Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit said after convening a meeting of the MDCs on Tuesday, while also informing that the MDCs will undertake a tour of the affected villages to instill a sense of security among the villagers.
The CEM informed that the MDCs would be visiting the areas in Block II like Sabuda falling under Raid Nongtung to interact with the local villagers so as to infuse a sense of security among them.
“We are likely to visit the various areas under Block II within this month,” Basaiawmoit said while also indicating that the MDCs would be visiting other areas where the residents are facing similar problems. Mentioning that the Council would issue an ultimatum to the State Government to deploy adequate police strength to protect the villagers residing in Block-II, Basaiawmoit said, “We would also submit a representation to the government indicating the various incidents of atrocities on our people by Assam-based militant outfits.”
The CEM also stated that the Council would keep a close watch on the steps taken by the State Government to ensure safety of the villagers and warned that the KHADC members would not flinch from taking recourse to drastic action if the Government failed to initiate any action to protect the local villagers from further harassment.
When reminded that the disputed areas under Block II are under the administrative control of the Assam Government, Basaiawmoit said it was upto the State Government to talk with their Assam counterpart on the need to provide adequate security to the local villagers.
“We would not hesitate in raising the issue with the Centre if the situation so demands,” the KHADC CEM added.
When asked if they would press the State Government to resolve the boundary dispute with Assam at the earliest, the KHADC chief said, “Security of the villagers is the main focus now. We would raise the issue of boundary dispute at a later stage.”
The CEM also asserted that both the ruling and opposition MDCs would continue to work together on issues concerning the greater interest of the local indigenous people.
Echoing similar sentiments, Opposition leader in the KHADC, Pynshngain N Syiem (Congress), said the opposition MDCs would be more than happy to cooperate with the ruling side on issues that affect the interest of the local people.