Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Thursday informed that he had a discussion with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on the need to ensure peace in the border areas.
Sangma said the recent incident that happened was also discussed during the late-night meeting held at Guwahati.
“We discussed the fact that we need to take steps to ensure that this does not happen in the future and that there should be restrained from both sides and all other factors to ensure there is peace and no tension is there, especially in the border areas,” he said while addressing at the inauguration of the new Shillong Press Club (SPC).
The chief minister said that this was needed to facilitate the entire process of taking the border talks forward.
The second phase of border talks between Assam and Meghalaya will soon start after the two states have signed the MoU on March 29, which ended the dispute in six areas of difference.
On September 26, the state government constituted and asked the three regional committees to examine and submit their reports on the present status of the remaining six areas of difference shared with Assam within a period of 45 days. However, on December 9, the state government extended the period for submission of reports by another 45 days.
The six areas include Langpih in West Khasi Hills District, Borduar, Nongwah-Mawtamur, Deshdoomreah, Block-II in Ri Bhoi district and Block-I, Psiar-Khanduli in West Jaintia Hills district.
Meanwhile, on December 8, the Meghalaya High Court directed that no physical demarcation and erection of boundary posts on the ground in the Assam-Meghalaya border till February 6, next year.
The order was passed by the Single Bench after hearing a petition which sought a stay to the operation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Assam and Meghalaya on March 29.
The petition was filed by four traditional chiefs – Syiem of Jirang R Hamberly Wahlang, Acting Syiem of Hima Mylliem Ainam Manik, Sirdar of Nonglang Sirdarship Pholasly Nianglang and Acting Chief of Nongspung Syiemship Erald Jyrwa.
