No pressure on border residents: Conrad

SHILLONG, Dec 21: State Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma has denied the allegations of Assam Border Areas Development Minister Atul Bora that there is pressure on the people in the disputed areas bordering Assam’s Kamrup district to be with Meghalaya for settling the boundary row.
“I don’t think it is possible to pressure anybody in any way. The people will make their own choice and we have left it to them to decide,” Sangma said on Tuesday.
Bora had claimed in the Assam Assembly that there are reports of police encouraging people in the border areas to opt for staying in Meghalaya.
Sangma said the people have been living along the border for a long time and they will decide what is best for them.
“There may be some concerns from Assam but I am speaking to the Assam Chief Minister regularly,” he said, adding that the people will be updated on the outcome of the ongoing talks between the two states in a day or two.
Assam’s Congress MLA Nandita Das, who represents the Boko Assembly constituency, had claimed the Meghalaya police have been asking the border residents to opt for living in the adjoining state.
Bora and Das are members of a committee formed by the Assam government to look into the disputes in areas of the Kamrup district bordering Meghalaya. The panel had visited some of these areas a couple of months ago for an on-ground inspection.
Assam and Meghalaya have identified six areas of dispute and decided to set up committees headed by cabinet ministers to try and find a solution. Out of the three Meghalaya committees, two have already submitted their report to the government.
These six areas out of a dozen are perceived to be less complicated.