School children demand right of way
Nongpoh: A day after the Assam government through the Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC) forcibly conducted a demolition drive and blocked the village road at Khanapara students of Nepali Sahayogi Secondary School on Friday staged a protest by holding placards against the Assam Government for blocking the village road leading to their school.
It may be mentioned that the demolition drive conducted by the Assam government on Thursday – where three houses belonging to the Narlengs’ clan were demolished besides blocking the only village road leading to the school – had caused severe inconveniences not only to the villagers but the school children as well.
Reacting over the actions of the Assam government, the students of Nepali Sahayogi Secondary School on Friday voiced their protest by shouting slogans and holding placards in the presence of the local residents and KSU members demanding immediate clearance of the boundary pillars allegedly erected by the Assam government.
Speaking to news persons, Assistant Teacher of Nepali Sahayogi Secondary School, D.R. Kafle, informed that the sudden demolition drive conducted by the Assam government has created a sense of fear amongst the school children of any untoward incident that might take place in the near future.
He also expressed concern that the Assam government did not serve any kind of notice or information to the school authority and even to the residents of the houses before conducting the demolition drive.
Kafle said the school authority strongly condemned the barbarian act of the Assam government which does not even respect the future of the school children by blocking the road which they use daily, adding that the school authority along with the students will continue their protest if the road was not cleared either by the Assam or the Meghalaya government.
Kafle further said that when the school was established in the year 1963, there were no ASTC office nor the Assam Police Outpost and that the road was present from time immemorial. He also claimed that the land which was allegedly captured by the Assam government falls under the territory of Meghalaya.
Kafle also hoped that this matter will be resolved soon since the Deputy Commissioner of Ri Bhoi District, C.P. Gotmare, has assured them of taking up this matter expeditiously.
Meanwhile, the KSU North Khasi Hills District also strongly condemned the actions of the Assam government for creating troubles on the territory of Meghalaya while blaming the State government of Meghalaya for its lackadaisical attitude in solving the border dispute which has been pending for a long time.
The Union raised this issue several times in the past urging the State government to take steps to solve the border dispute with Assam, KSU NKHD president Ferdynald Kharkamni said.
Kharkamni further said that the Union will soon seek an appointment with the Assam chief minister to discuss the border issue which has badly affected the people of Meghalaya residing in the interstate border with Assam.
Kharkamni also asked the Meghalaya government to give exemption or ensure minimum rate for registering lands belonging to people residing in border areas.
HSPDP condemns encroachment
The HSPDP on Friday condemned the encroachment by Assam government at Khanapara.
In a statement issued here, the party stated that successive governments of Assam have adopted the same tactic when it comes to harassing people of Meghalaya.
He slammed the BJP government in Assam – who was instrumental in bringing about the North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) – for harassing the people of Meghalaya.
The party urged the State government to take stringent action against the encroachment of Assam government into Meghalaya and asked the government to settle the boundary disputes between the two states.