SHILLONG, June 23: The residents of 39 villages from the Langpih sector on Thursday submitted a joint memorandum to the Meghalaya government reiterating their stand to not be a part of Assam.
Langpih is one of the “more complicated” of the six disputed sectors scheduled to be discussed in the second phase of the process to resolve the border row.
The controversy surrounding the memorandum of understanding (MoU) the two states had signed on March 29 had stoked the fear among the Langpih area residents that they will be tagged with Assam.
The MoU was signed by Chief Minister Conrad Sangma and his Assam counterpart Himanta Biswa Sarma in presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah on March 29, 2022, to resolve the border dispute between the two states.
Bajop Pyngrope, the MDC from the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council’s Rambrai-Jyrngam constituency, led the delegation that submitted the memorandum to Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong.
He said the villagers had come to meet him since it would be easier for the regional border committees to decide on the matter whenever their members visit Langpih.
Pyngrope said the 39 villages comprise of 20 Khasi and 19 Garo-inhabited areas. He added that 95% of the villages in the Langpih sector have decided to remain in Meghalaya while efforts were on to convince the remaining villages to not go with Assam.
Both the Meghalaya and Assam governments have claimed the resolution of the first-phase sectors was a success. But the people of many border villages that want to be a part of Meghalaya have resented being tagged with Assam.
The six areas that were taken up first for resolution are Tarabari, Gizang, Hahim, Boklapara, Khanapara-Pillangkata and Ratacherra. The areas fall in Kamrup, Kamrup (Metropolitan) and Cachar districts of Assam and West Khasi Hills, Ri-Bhoi and East Jaintia Hills districts of Meghalaya.
