The dismantling of electric poles by Assam police in Ïongkhuli, Ri-Bhoi, recently was more like how cowboys might behave and not befitting of a police force, United Democratic Party (UDP) leader Bindo M Lanong said today.
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).
“I urged the Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Conrad Sangma, to react in such a manner that will not only give solace to the affected people in the border areas but create a sense of belonging – that those areas belong to us and the Meghalaya government must protect the people and provide them safety and security,” he told Highland Post.
“We welcome the statement of the new Chief Minister of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma, with regards to solving the long-pending boundary dispute between Meghalaya and Assam and other North East states through dialogue but we did not expect him to violate his statement by sending police personnel and forces in areas like Iongkhuli and the border of Mizoram (where there was also a clash on the same day),” he added. “The CM of Assam should respect the sentiments of the people, be like a big brother to the rest of the North East states, maintain a neighbourly relationship with all and try to solve everything through dialogue and not create a situation that will give rise to fresh disputes.”
The Meghalaya government, the former Deputy CM said, should stand strong, so that Assam thinks twice about using force.
