By Daiaphira Kharsati

SHILLONG:

Ahead of Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to the state, pressure groups in Meghalaya have voiced their concern over the inter-state border issue, urging the state government to look into land encroachment by Assam.

Youth wing of the Hynniewtrep Women Welfare and Development Organization, Hynniewtrep Border Dispute and Redressal Forum and the Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) have submitted a joint representation to Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on the inter-state border dispute.

“There is no will from the government to take back the places that rightly belong to Meghalaya. And hence, we have given detailed information to the Union Home Minister Amit Shah who will reach Shillong tomorrow,”  President of KHNAM (youth wing) Thomas Passah stated.

The organization stressed that one of the Doloiships in Jaintia Hills which is Lapang-Nongpyllut and Raliang which they claimed no longer exist.

Passah mentioned that as per records available from 1500 AD, the Doloiship falls under Block I, and is part of Meghalaya territory.

“After India’s independence, there was a survey of the area by ministers, and they eventually took this Doloiship to be included under the North Cachar Karbi District Council, which is illegal as the residents were not consulted,” he pointed.

Passah said that based on the documents, the then Assam government constituted a survey committee and directed the Chief Executive Members (CEMs) of erstwhile Khasi Jaintia Autonomous District Council and North Cachar and Karbi Hills Council to survey in 1957.

“Back then, it was also decided that these places will be transferred to Khasi Jaintia Autonomous District Council. However, to date this has not been done,” he said.

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