By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Oct 6: Cabinet Minister and chairperson of the West Khasi Hills regional committee on interstate border, Paul Lyngdoh said that neutral forces will only be deployed in sensitive locations of dispute and not Langpih, where there are no indications of any possibility of skirmishes or conflicts.
“Words that have emerged from Langpih do not indicate any possibility of skirmishes or conflicts. So, these forces will only be deployed in highly sensitive locations where troubles have broken out or have the potential to,” he said on Friday.
On a few pressure groups opposing the move of both Assam and Meghalaya to deploy central or neutral forces in sensitive locations along the interstate boundary, he said: “If we send Meghalaya police, Assam will object. If Assam sends its police, Meghalaya will object. If we send para-military forces, some NGOs will object and if we do not send anyone, you will object.”
“So, who do we send?” he asked.
Lyngdoh also said the regional committees are to complete the entire process and submit their final report to within October.
“As soon as our counterparts from Assam are free, we should be able to finalise the dates but everything will be completed within October and the report will be submitted to the respective state government,” he said on the joint site visit.
Asked if the reports will be shared, he said, “It will be a comprehensive single report prepared by the two regional committees. We will try to share.”
Lyngdoh downplayed the construction work undertaken by Assam in many areas along the interstate border, leading to tension. “That has been happening for several decades now but I can assure you that once we are in a position to finally settle all the six areas of difference, we will be able to resolve the matter,” he said.
He said the Meghalaya government is strengthening the police force with some 2,500 youths currently undergoing training. “They will join the state police in a couple of months. Apart from that, 4,000 new vacancies will be filled up by next year,” he added.
Lyngdoh insisted that the “ice is melting” for the memorandum of understanding to be signed soon for the border conflicts with Assam.
