NONGPOH:Breaking his silence over the incident at Balakhwa village, the local legislator of Jirang constituency, Sosthenes Sohtun while talking to media persons on Sunday said that he had even visited ground zero on the very same day of the incident and that he had also urged the Chief Minister and the Home Minister for their interventions in transferring of the case from Assam to Meghalaya as the place of incident falls under the his constituency which is part and parcel of Meghalaya.
Sohtun also informed that following the incident on May 7, the day in which Michael Warjri was attacked and his house ransacked by a mob from adjoining villagers, he had also met the Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma and the Home Minister, James K Sangma urging them to set-up a Police Outpost at the border village and that an assurance had been given that the same would soon be set-up at Balakhwa village.
He also said that the matter had been taken seriously with the state government to resolve the border dispute at the earliest possible in order to maintain peace and tranquillity among the residents of the inter-state borders of Meghalaya and Assam as well as to beef up security measures at Balakhwa village to prevent escalations of law and order problems, adding that he had also urged the state government to set-up a temporary police battalion camp at Balakhwa village to prevent any untoward incidents which might escalate because of the incident.
On the other hand, Sohtun also appreciated the spirit of Michael Warjri, the Secretary of Hima Nongspung despite his old age and threats to his life from various quarters, he stands firm even if that is to stand alone to protect and safeguard the borders from encroachment by the Assam which an example for the fellow residents of border villages to follow.
