SHILLONG: The imbroglio of East Jaintia Hills villages-Bangladesh merging came to a full stop on Sunday, after Huroi village secretary, Raja L Suchen, said that the statement was made only to draw the attention of the state government, so the ordeals of the rural border population will be addressed.
“We only wanted to express the problems of the people and wish the government to listen to our grievances,” he clarified, adding that the people have no intention or desire to go to Bangladesh and affirmed their allegiance to the government and the Constitution of India.
In a statement issued here, Suchen also welcomed the assurance given by the Deputy Chief Minister in-charge of PWD (Roads), Prestone Tynsong, to pursue with the road construction of the four villages.
Suchen — who wrote on behalf of Hingaria, Lahalein and Lejri villages — said that the state government, through the district administration and the district police, has assured that the grievances of the villages will be rigorously pursued for speedy redressal, particularly with regard to the road and mobile connectivity problem.
It may be mentioned that Suchen had recently said that residents of four villages in Indo-Bangladesh border of Jaintia Hills have, in a meeting, unanimously decided to give their villages to Bangladesh if the government is not willing to start road connectivity there.
Stating that the visit of the district administration and district police to these villages is very important, Suchen said the people now will feel hopeful and connected with the government and that they will not feel left out.
“Such visits will enable the government to understand the problems of these villages and that appropriate action can be taken to resolve the same,” he said.
Suchen said that the four villages will continue to pursue the matter of road construction with the government in democratic lines.
Expressing optimism, he hoped the problem of road issue will be resolved and that the proposal for road construction be sanctioned by the Centre.
In the weeks to come, the villages will meet Chief Minister Conrad Sangma and Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong to highlight the problems of the villages, which have crippled the life of the people and pray for speedy redressal of the problem.