SHILLONG, March 13: A written reply in the Assam Assembly by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma claiming that Mukroh village falls within the territorial jurisdiction of West Karbi Anglong District of Assam has stirred the hornet’s nest with Meghalaya firmly dismissing his claim and asserting that Mukroh village falls within Meghalaya.
Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong vehemently countered Sarma’s claim and made it crystal clear that Mukroh (in West Jaintia Hills District) falls well within Meghalaya.
“Mukroh is well within Meghalaya. It is very clear and till this moment it is under the possession of Meghalaya,” Tynsong said, while terming the claim of the Assam CM as unfortunate.
In a written reply to a question by BJP MLA from Diphu, Bidya Sing Engleng, Sarma told the Assam Assembly on Monday that Mukroh is within the boundary of Assam and is under the jurisdiction of West Karbi Anglong District.
Sarma also stated that the Assam government was yet to officially inform Meghalaya about its position on Mukroh.
“I don’t know why such a statement was made by the CM of Assam. We are in the process of stepping into the second phase of the border talks and I personally feel he should not have said that,” Tynsong said.
“It is unfortunate that he (Assam CM) made the statement on the floor of the Assam Assembly. But let me tell you very clearly that Mukroh area falls under Meghalaya,” Tynsong added.
Asked if the Meghalaya government will register a protest or a complaint with its Assam counterpart, he said, “The talk will start again so just wait for that.”
On the resumption of the interstate border resolution process and reactivation of the regional border committees, Tynsong said, “It is our priority and it has to be initiated now. We had made it clear that the second phase will start very soon and we will work it out accordingly.”
The fresh development featuring Mukroh comes less than four months after a forest guard from Assam and five villagers of Meghalaya were killed in the ensuing violence that broke out on November 22 after a truck allegedly carrying “illegally-felled timber” was intercepted by the Assam Forest personnel.
