SHILLONG, April 1: Just days after the state government finalised the border agreement with Assam bringing to an end the dispute in six of the 12 areas of differences leading to protests by residents of border villages who will now go to Assam, as many as 36 villages falling under the contested Block-I area in East Jaintia Hills have joined hands and formed a committee to ensure that they remain with Meghalaya.
Block-I and Block-II are among the remaining six “more complicated” areas of differences which will be taken up in the second phase of negotiations between the two neighbouring states. The other four areas are Langpih, Borduar, Nongwah-Mawtamur and Psiar- Khanduli.
The 36 villages in Block-I have formed the Labang Nongphyllut Pangam Raliang Area Committee (LNPRAC) during a meeting at Lamarang village in East Jaintia Hills on Thursday.
Leaders of Ka Sur u Paidbah ka Bri u Hynniewtrep, STIEH and adviser of LNPRAC, Erwin K Syiem Sutnga attended the meeting.
Addressing the villagers, Sutnga stressed on the need to submit a petition to the state government to ensure that these 36 villages remain in Meghalaya.
Sutnga questioned the state government’s approach towards resolving the long-pending interstate boundary issue by giving away villages and areas falling under Hima Mylliem in Ri-Bhoi district to Assam. “The state government has violated the Instrument of Accession by signing the MoU,” he said.
Chairman of Ka Sur u Paidbah ka Bri u Hynniewtrep, Rastingwel Thabah questioned HSPDP chief KP Pangniang over his claim that the 12 areas of differences are no longer part of Meghalaya. “This statement is dangerous since it is an attempt to mislead the people,” he said.
