Assam and Meghalaya have decided to pull out their respective police forces from Khanduli area along the inter-state border in West Jaiñtia Hills and Karbi Anglong and will deploy the CRPF to man the outpost.
This was decided at the Chief Ministers level meeting of the two states, between Himanta Biswa Sarma and Conrad Sangma to resolve the interstate boundary dispute.
The decision comes after recent spate of violence between the two communities in Khanduli caused by a tax gate erected by the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council there.
Sarma said the deployment of CRPF, a neutral force, will ensure people from both sides of the border feel comfortable.
Sangma said that the Meghalaya police outpost has been set up adjacent to one set up by Assam police. “In order to avoid face to face confrontation it was decided today that Assam police will put the CRPF in that outpost and Meghalaya police will shift a bit farther so that both the police forces of both the states are not seen in the actual areas of conflict.”
He also said that the chairmen of the regional committee will visit the locations and a visit with the Assam Chief Minister will be made to Khanduli after the Pujas in October.
“I am sure that with all the efforts being put in we will move towards a resolution which will be amicable and acceptable to both the states,” Sangma said.
Deputy Chief Minister of Meghalaya Sniawbhalang Dhar, Assam Agriculture Minister Atul Bora, Environment and Forest Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary, senior officials of both the states were present at the meeting.
