Jirang MLA Sosthenes Sohtun has suggested that the state government should consider appointing a ‘border magistrate’ so that incidents like those that occurred in Ïongkhuli, Ri-Bhoi, recently are not repeated.
It was on July 26 that Assam police manhandled the Mawhati MDC in an incident at the village, which the Assam officials contested was under their jurisdiction.
“I have suggested to the [regional border dispute] committee headed by Prestone Tynsong that there should be a fully-fledged border magistrate and enhanced police presence that will specifically look into the border area so that the people here feel safe and secure,” Sohtun told Highland Post.
Pointing out that some people in the area are registering their land with Assam, he said that this gives Assam the power to claim jurisdiction over the territory, which is illegal since the land there falls under Raid Marwet of Meghalaya.
When asked about the electric poles at Ïongkhuli that were forcefully removed by the Assam police, the MLA said that last year some people there had taken electric connections from Assam but Meghalaya scotched this since the village is well within the latter’s territory. It was when the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Ltd tried to set up the poles to provide electricity to the village that the border clash occurred.
Sohtun, however, said that everything has now returned to normal in Ïongkhuli.
