Assam and Meghalaya on Saturday finalized the boundary line at Hahim sector, one of the six areas of difference that have been resolved in the first phase of border talks even as they agreed to deploy a ‘neutral force’ in the other remaining areas of difference, where frequent tension erupted.
The decisions were taken at the chief minister-level border talks held at the Assam State Guest House, Koinadhara, Khanapara.
Meghalaya chief minister Conrad K Sangma and Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma have also decided to visit Khanduli-Psiar by the last week of October.
The two State governments have also expressed keen interest to quickly resolve the border dispute in three of the six remaining areas of difference which include Langpih, Borduar and Deshdoomreah.
Addressing the media, Conrad K Sangma said, “We are happy to inform the people of both Assam and Meghalaya that after a very long drawn exercise, we are now on the verge of finalising the actual pillars and the actual boundary lines in the first six areas of difference, which we have signed the MoU in the presence of the Union home minister Amit Shah (on March 29, last year).”
“Today in the meeting, we have approved and given a green signal for the Hahim sector where the surveys have been conducted along with the Assam and Meghalaya state officials and we are happy to announce that the lines have been finalised,” he added.
Sangma said instructions have been given that the actual line and demarcation for the other five areas – Upper Tarabari, Gizang, Boklapara, Khanapara-Pilingkata and Ratachera – by the Survey of India along with officials of both the States should be completed by December 31.
Stating that the two States are also moving very aggressively to resolve the remaining areas of difference, Meghalaya CM said, “We are moving very fast in three areas (which we will mentioned later to the press) and we have asked the regional committees of both the states to come to a conclusion at the earliest.”
Expressing concern over the recent incidents of violence at the disputed Block-I and Khanduli-Psiar area in West Jaintia Hills District and Karbi Anglong District, Sangma said the meeting had a detailed discussion on the matter and have decided to deploy the central reserve police force (CRPF) as a ‘neutral force’ in such areas.
He said that both the state governments have decided to pull back their respective police forces from such areas and this is being done to build up the confidence level of the people adding “This is being done to send a positive message to the people and as I said neutral forces will come into those places and that way we will ensure that there is no violence.”
He also added that both the state governments have also asked their respective regional committee chairmen and senior officials to visit the locations and ensure that peace prevails in such sensitive areas.
“Assam chief minister and myself have also decided that we will be visiting the Khanduli-Psiar area in the month of October,” Sangma said while expressing confidence that the two States will be able to come up with an amicable solution which is acceptable to people of both the states.
Terming the meeting as very cordial, Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the Assam police has recently set up a police outpost at Khanduli-Psiar and in front of that, Meghalaya police too had put up another police outpost making it almost eyeball to eyeball confrontation.
“So what we have decided today is Assam police will put CRPF in that outpost and Meghalaya will also take their police force a little behind so that it goes to a neutral police force and neither Assam police nor Meghalaya police is seen in actual areas of conflict. We can come a little later 200-300 meters behind, we can put up police but at the point of confrontation let there be CRPF and not the police of both the states,” he said.
Sarma informed that the meeting had unanimously decided to quickly resolve the three of the six remaining areas of dispute.
“Although Meghalaya CM is not mentioning the three areas, we have requested Meghalaya CM that Assam is ready to quickly resolve the border dispute in Langpih, Borduar and Deshdoomreah because these are non-Sixth Schedule areas for us. We have more flexibility, we can quickly go and resolve but of course the final modalities will be found out by the regional committees and we have asked the regional committees to make a representation before Meghalaya CM within the shortest possible time and resolve these three disputes as quickly as possible. Of course, the final decision will be taken at the chief minister’s level,” he said.
Further, the Assam CM also informed that the Survey of India has completed their surveys in Hahim sector and now border pillars will be erected and both the state governments have accepted the position.
Today the Survey of India officials were there and we have requested them to quickly complete the survey for the other five areas before December 31,” he said while adding that “There are some problems in one village Mallang Salbari. We have asked the Assam side to be a little bit flexible while demarcating the border so that local people do not become unnecessarily tense and we can resolve peacefully. Whatever little flexibility we have shown in Tarabari, Assam will show but let us quickly finish the border pillar activity in six agreed areas.”
“We also hope to visit the Khanduli-Psiar area in the last week of October and then carry forward the discussion in the next 2 months so that at least in three disputed areas out of 6 we can show some positive results. Other 3 when will visit, then we will talk to local people and will try to make an environment so that ultimate rest 3 also we will be able to resolve,” he concluded.
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