The Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) youth wing, Hynniewtrep Indigenous Territorial Organisation (HITO) and Hynñiewtrep Border Dispute Redressal Forum (HBDRF) have raised the issue of continued encroachment by Assam on Meghalaya territory.
KHNAM and the HBDRF sent a joint representation to Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on the violation of the agreement to maintain the status quo by Assam in Saba village.
“We have been informed that the government of Assam is continuing with the construction of a police outpost in the village of Saba, Mojem, Block-1,” Thomas Passah, KHNAM youth wing president, said.
Chandame Sunguh, chairman of HBDRF, accompanied by the MDC of Mynsngad-Khanduli, Dawan Lyngdoh, met the Deputy Commissioner of West Jaintia Hills to enquire into reports of the fresh encroachment.
“It was informed that there was already an agreement with the West Karbi Anglong district and government of Assam to bring to an end to the construction of the police outpost. However, as per the finding of officials who have been sent to the area by the DC’s office for inspection, it is reported that there are signs and markings, which confirm that construction is still in progress despite the decision to stop that amounts to a violation of the agreement between both the states,” Passah informed.
Difficulties are faced by the Meghalaya authorities in monitoring the situation, however, as they have to travel through Assam to get to Saba.
“We also expressed our discontent with the construction of a border police outpost at Khatkhasla, West Jaintia Hills. The high officials of the Assam government and Karbi Anglong Council have inspected the outpost recently with a commitment to construct boundary walls in the area. It is to state that we have visited Khatkhasla and it is eminent that all the resident of the village is our Jaintia brothers and the area falls in the jurisdiction of the state of Meghalaya,” he said, adding that construction of the police outpost in these disputed areas will jeopardize the safety of the residents in the village.
Meanwhile, HITO also raised the issue of Khatkhasla with the Chief Minister.
The group called on all NGOs, traditional heads and the three district councils to raise their concern to “this illegal encroachment” and to do it soon in order to prevent any chance of loss of life, as, HITO reminded, had occurred in Langpih in 2009.
