The Deputy Commissioner of Ri-Bhoi, RM Kurbah, has called for calm in Ïongkhuli and the rest of the district after July 26’s aggression by Assam.
Monday’s border flare-up saw Assam police manhandle Mawhati MDC Charles Marngar. The Assam authorities claimed that the village belongs to Assam and uprooted an electric pole that had been erected by the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Ltd (MeECL).
Today, Kurbah said that Ïongkhuli is firmly within Meghalaya territory and there is no question that it could belong to Assam. Therefore, the MeECL was quite within its rights to carry out electrification there.
“It is the Assam police who provoked and created law and order problems at Ïongkhuli village as police and CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) were deputed by Assam by claiming that Meghalaya has intruded into the jurisdiction of Assam,” Kurbah said. “The district administration will take up the matter with the government and whatever report is made by the magistrate will be sent to the government and our efforts now are to keep the local people safe.”
The clash will be discussed by Chief Minister Conrad Sangma when he meets his counterpart from Assam for the next round of border talks on August 6, she added.
