NONGSTOIN, Oct 25: The Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) has demanded that the joint inspection of the Assam-Meghalaya border conducted by the Regional Committee for West Khasi Hills Sector on October 4 should be nullified even as it opined that “border dispute should be settled based on the territorial jurisdiction of the Khasi state which is in line with Para 20 of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution”.
The pressure group expressed surprise over media reports that the Regional Committee of West Khasi Hills under the chairmanship of Renikton L Tongkhar did not invite the Sirdar, Syiem, Rangbah Shnong nor representatives from the KHADC to conduct the inspection. “Opinions, views and claims of the Khasi state (Hima & Elaka), KHADC and the Dorbar Shnong are very important with regard to settlement of boundary dispute between the two states,” HYC president, Robertjune Kharjahrin, said in a letter to the Deputy Commissioner of West Khasi Hills.
Stating that they strongly object to the non-inclusion of the local heads and representatives, the HYC said that the border areas fall under the territorial jurisdiction of the Khasi Hima.
During a joint site inspection conducted by the regional committees for Ri Bhoi, which was led by Deputy Chief Minister, Prestone Tynsong, and Kamrup, the Syiem, Syiem Raid, Rangbah Shnong and representative of KHADC were taken along, the HYC pointed out, while posing a question on why the yard stick for West Khasi Hills was different.
“The way the chairman of West Khasi Hill Regional Committee conducted the affair is questionable and we suspect that there is foul play,” Kharjahrin said.
“Hence, we demand the same (inspection) to be nullified and instead have a fresh inspection in the presence of all important stakeholders like the representative of KHADC, representative of the Hima concerned, local headman and social organisation from the district,” he added.
