By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, May 19: The Meghalaya government on Tuesday acknowledged growing difficulties in negotiations over the sensitive Lapangap border dispute, alleging that the authorities in Assam’s West Karbi Anglong district have repeatedly backtracked on verbal understandings reached during the talks, complicating efforts to maintain peace and resolve the issue.
Cabinet Minister and MDA-II spokesperson Wailadmiki Shylla said that despite engagements between officials of both states, Meghalaya was facing challenges as positions taken during meetings were allegedly being changed within hours.
He said the Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police of both Meghalaya and Assam remained in close contact, and negotiations were continuing to prevent the situation from escalating further.
Shylla was responding to concerns over fresh tension in the Lapangap area, including reports of stone-pelting shortly after a recent peace meeting and allegations from villagers that there was little cooperation from the Assam side.
The minister said the issue was not new and recalled similar incidents earlier, particularly during the last harvesting season, when local villagers were allegedly prevented from harvesting crops. According to him, the Meghalaya government intervened and pursued the matter with the Assam government, following which the villagers were later allowed to harvest their produce.
Referring to the larger Assam-Meghalaya border settlement process, Shylla said the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government made significant progress by resolving six out of the 12 areas of difference with Assam.
However, he said the remaining six areas remained highly sensitive and difficult due to the complexities involved and the sentiments of people residing in the disputed regions.
Shylla also said discussions on the border issue slowed temporarily due to the recent elections in Assam, but expressed hope that talks and negotiations would resume fully now that the elections were over.
Reiterating the government’s commitment, the minister said Meghalaya remained focused on resolving all the disputed areas through continued dialogue and mutual understanding.
Tension flared in the disputed Lapangap area along the Meghalaya-Assam border on Monday following an incident of stone-pelting and a minor confrontation between people from both sides.
The incident occurred shortly after a meeting between the two sides ended peacefully, but without any resolution.
West Jaintia Hills Superintendent of Police Jagpal Singh Dhanoa said one person sustained minor injuries in the latest confrontation involving NGO members from both sides. He said additional security forces have been deployed in the area to maintain law and order and ensure public safety.
He said that the meeting, held in the presence of officials, was inconclusive as disagreements persisted over farming and plantation activities in the disputed area.
He said Meghalaya villagers showed utmost sagacity by proposing joint cultivation of highlands or hillocks by people from both sides for seasonal crops until the boundary issue is resolved.
However, the Assam side reportedly objected to the proposal and instead pushed for tree plantations in the area. This was opposed outright by the Meghalaya representatives, who argued that plantations are semi-permanent and could complicate the Boundary Commission’s arbitration in the dispute.
