By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Oct 8: As negotiations with Assam for resolving the remaining areas of difference under the second phase of boundary discussions remain stalled, the State BJP has called upon the Meghalaya government to strengthen police infrastructure and presence along the interstate border areas, while also urging the resumption of the talks.
It may be recalled that police are currently maintaining a close vigil in sensitive zones such as Lapangap, particularly during the harvesting season, when tensions and disruptions are known to flare up.
BJP chief spokesperson Mariahom Kharkrang said, “I think it is high time we have to ask both our MLAs and even the party president to take it up with our state government because it is for our interest and the lull is being lingering for way too long and it is putting the people in various difficulties.”
He said the party intends to formally raise the matter with the government. “I think it is high time that we as a party take up the issue like we have been doing other issues concerning the people. We will request both our legislators to take it up with our state government,” Kharkrang said.
Expressing concern over the conditions of police personnel deployed in sensitive border locations, he said, “We would like to request the state government if our Meghalaya police is there in areas where tensions are along the interstate boundary like Lapangap, please put up a strong police presence in such areas so that our villagers are not affected. Because many a times we find our police force who are posted in the border areas, they lack the basic infrastructure, whereas when you look at the border outposts of the neighbouring state, they have all the infrastructure. This in itself has belittled our police. I would like to request the government if they ever post police personnel in the border areas, please put them up properly with proper infrastructure so that they can live with the basic necessities and not just dump people over there — then it will be a strong force.”
Kharkrang’s remarks come amid renewed local concern over the long delay in the second phase of border talks between Meghalaya and Assam. The two states had earlier agreed to settle the interstate boundary dispute in a phased manner. While an agreement has already been signed for six of the twelve areas of difference under the first phase, discussions for the remaining six are yet to resume.
In the second phase, both sides are expected to address boundary differences in Langpih, Borduar, Deshdoomreah, Block I and II, Psiar–Khanduli, and Nongwah–Mawtamur (Garbhanga).
