CM announces joint visits to ‘sensitive’ border areas

SHILLONG, May 16: Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Tuesday said official from Meghalaya and Assam will undertake joint visits to certain “sensitive” areas along the interstate border as part of the dispute resolution process under the second phase of border talks scheduled to commence before the end of the month.
The announcement of the joint visit comes at a time when frequent clashes are being reported between Khasi-Pnar and Karbi people in Khanduli area in West Jaintia Hills.
“We have decided that a joint visit will be made especially to the sensitive zones as part of a confidence building measure. We would ask our respective administrations, citizens and officials concerned to show restraint and avoid any kind of action that could lead to the situation getting tense,” Sangma said.
Asked if these frequent skirmishes along the border villages will have an impact on the second phase of talks, the CM said such incidents have been there for the last 50 years.
“What we need to understand is that the reason behind the border talks is that these kinds of incidents do not occur,” he said.
Stating that skirmishes are happening because there are areas of differences, Sangma said the government has realized the necessity of finding a solution at the earliest so that these incidents are prevented in future.