SHILLONG: The CEM of Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC), Teiñwell Dkhar has urged the state government to bring back the secretary of Hima Nongspung, Michael Warjri to Meghalaya who is alleged to be confined bu Assam police.
Speaking to reporters here on Monday, Dkhar said all the MDCs both from the ruling and the opposition, members of NGOs met to discuss the imbroglio in Balakhowa, Ri-Bhoi.
Dkhar said Warjri maintains and keeps a record of all land documents of the border areas in his home. “Some of these important land documents were all found burnt,” he said.
Meanwhile, Executive Member (EM) of the KHADC, Titoswell Chyne informed the border area residents to get a free land registration of their land in the border areas and spot registration of their lands.
He said the meeting also decided to revive the land boundary committee and to check the land records. The meeting also demanded to set up a police outpost at New Balakhowa.
With most border areas found wanting in all aspects of development, Chyne also requested government to speed up developmental works in the border areas.
Meanwhile, the joint secretary of Hima Nongspung, Philemon Kharmyndai, who attended the meeting said the Executive committee (EC) of the KHADC will write to the state government to take up the arrest of Warjri and the alleged Assam encroachment seriously.
However, on the part of the dorbar, he said the Hima would call a dorbar hima pertaining to the arrest of the secretary of the Hima, Michael Warjri.
According to Kharmyndai, Warjri has a huge responsibility as he has all the documents of land in the border areas.
Kharmyndai alleged that the state had not responded to the allegations of encroachment by Assam.
He said the state government did not extend amenities to the border villages while the Assam government offers free electricity, water connection, road connectivity.
“We oppose the encroachment by Assam but Meghalaya does not take up any developmental activites in the border area and we fear that Assam would claim over the land. State government should resolve the border dispute,” Kharmyndai said.