Stop ongoing border talks with Assam: HITO tells govt

SHILLONG, Dec 5: The Hynniewtrep Integrated Territorial Organization (HITO) on Monday asked the state government to stop the ongoing border talks with Assam in view of the Mukroh shooting incident on November 22.
In a memorandum submitted to Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma here on Monday, HITO president Donbok Dkhar said all border negotiations should be stopped in view of the nefarious and ulterior motive of Assam to claim land outside the 12 areas of dispute.
HITO recalled the executive decisions taken by the two state governments since 1983 and suggested that the government should set up police outposts at Jrikyndeng village under Block-I and beyond Jatalong and Sabuda villages under Block-II.
“We want the government to take immediate action to set up temporary outposts at Mokoilum beyond Mukroh village,” the HITO president said.
Dkhar pinned the blame on the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) for the loss of five precious lives at Mukroh.
Explaining further, he said the delay in addressing the constitutional anomaly with regard to the status of the Khasi States and the restoration of the Khasi States National Assembly inaugurated on April 29, 1949 by the then Governor of Assam, in Shillong, is one of the primary cause of the border conflict.
He maintained that any settlement of the border issue without considering the Instrument of Accession will result in a constitutional crisis and the MDA Government in the state and the BJP government at the Centre will have to bear full responsibilities.
HITO also asked the government to increase the compensation and support to the families of the five victims of the firing incident.