Khanapara eviction drive a routine one, says Assam government official
SHILLONG/NONGPOH/GUWAHATI: An emergency cabinet meeting held on Thursday registered protest against Assam government for blocking a road at Khanapara causing inconvenience to the Meghalaya residents.
Briefing reporters after the brief cabinet meeting, the Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said that the emergency meet was called to protest against the stand of new Assam government for its “irresponsible and uncalled for act in blocking the road which is under Meghalaya”.
According to the Chief Minister, the cabinet condemned the act of Assam government which is not justified as the blocking of the road will affect the free passage of people to the National Highway.
The Chief Minister said that such kind of activities from Assam authorities in the area which belongs of Meghalaya will deter the maintenance of conducive atmosphere in the border.
Meghalaya has already deputed officials including the Deputy Commissioner of Ri- Bhoi to assess the situation and restore the road connectivity.
“The cabinet also expressed displeasure urging the Government of Assam to refrain from such activities in future”, the Chief Minister said.
Regarding the areas of differences, Sangma said that the Chief Ministerial level meeting should be resumed at the earliest to address the long pending border dispute after the state government had submitted documents related to disputed areas substantiating its claim.
However, a report from Guwahati said that an anti-encroachment drive in Khanapara area of Guwahati on Thursday led to apprehension of tension in the area with bordering Meghalaya.
Kamrup (metro) deputy commissioner M. Angamuthu said an anti-encroachment drive was carried out on a plot of land owned by Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC) in Khanapara area.
The area is in the proximity of Koinadhara where the official residence of former Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi is situated.
The official said the drive was a routine matter to clear the area of encroachment.
He said an official of Meghalaya government had spoken to him over telephone regarding the eviction drive to know the details as the area is close to the inter-state border.
The Kamrup (metro) deputy commissioner, however, claimed that there was no report of any inter-state border tension due to the eviction drive.
However, the traditional heads in Khanapara have taken the issue as a matter of illegal encroachment of land by Assam along the inter-state border.
The Durbar Shnong and the local residents of Khanapara expressed their anger against the Assam State Transport Corporation for allegedly encroaching into Meghalaya and even blocking the village motorable road by erecting a boundary pillar.
The villagers of Khanapara also alleged that the Assam government through the ASTC forcibly demolished the rented house owned by the Narleng clans.
The headman of Khanapara village Jeromy Lyngdoh informed that the Assam government carried out the demolition drive and erection of boundary pillars without informing the village authority.
According to him, Assam blocked the road which was used by the villagers, students of Nepal Sayogi Government School.
Durbar Shnong Khanapara wondered as to how the Assam government failed to serve notices to the affected land owners and the public before carrying out such kind of demolition drive.
In this connection, Durbar Shnong accompanied by the Khasi Students Union Northern Border Area met the Deputy Commissioner CP Gotmare, Deputy Commissioner Ri Bhoi to stop illegal encroachment by Assam.
When contacted, Gotmare said that the authorities in Assam raised demarcation polls which affected the passage of people of Hilldubi in Ri Bhoi.
Gotmare said that there was some sort of demarcation going on in Hilldubi areas by Assam State Transport Corporation and the raising of demarcation polls affected the passage which is used by the people of Hilldubi.
According to Deputy Commissioner, as the place is an undisputed land, the matter has been taken up at the highest level.
“I have also taken up the matter with my counterpart,” he said.
Meanwhile the General Secretary UDP Ri- Bhoi Rayonald Kharkamni has condemned the action of the Assam government in “demolishing houses and erection of boundary pillars” inside the territory of Meghalaya.
Kharkamni also said that UDP Ri Bhoi will take up the issue with the Central leadership of the UDP and the Assam government.
He also deplored that the state government is not serious in solving this border issue.