From Our Correspondent
NONGSTOIN: “Langpih belongs to Meghalaya and that Assam has no claim over this land,” said HSPDP member and noted lawyer Fenella Nonglait.
Nonslait said this while speaking at the venue of the fast-unto-death staged by Pynskhemlang Nongshlong and others over the Assam-Meghalaya border row at Langpih on Tuesday.
Taking a dig at UDP leader Paul Lyngdoh who led the Boundary Committee set up in 2009, Nonglait, who was part of the People’s Movement delegation that visited Langpih on Tuesday to offer solidarity with the fasting agitators, said the Committee is yet to submit its report.
Nonglait, however, made no promises but said that she would ensure that the Boundary Committee came up with its report. “Let there be no more gimmicks about talks on this issue,” she said.
Nonglait said Langpih had witnessed enough blood shed in 2010 following the firing by the Assam Police on 14th May, 2010. She said the Phukan Commission’s report had condemned the killings and directed that a sum of Rs 6 lakh should be paid to the nearest kin of the deceased. “This amount is no compensation for the life of the victims,” Nonglait said.
Other People’s Movement leaders who converged at Langpih were UDP legislator Ardent Basaiawmoit, MDCs K P Pangniang, L G Nongsiej, Enbin K Raswai, Ban Basaiawmoit and Adelbert Nongrum, former KSU (Central Body) General secretary Hamlet Dohling, FKJGP Working President Joe Marwein, Palwanbor Syiem President FKJGP (West Khasi Hills) and John Fischer President KSU (West Khasi Hills).
Nongshlong and others began fast-unto-death on June 30 at Langpih near the memorial stone, built in memory of the four Khasi villagers from Langpih area who were killed in firing by Assam police firing on May 14, 2010.
