Shillong, June 27: Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Home (Police) Prestone Tynsong has directed the district administration of West Jaintia Hills to ensure that status quo is respected in a disputed area where a tree plantation drive was recently halted due to a border dispute with Assam.
According to Tynsong, the issue has been resolved after the Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police intervened. The dispute arose due to a tree plantation drive in an area claimed by both Meghalaya and Assam’s Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC).
Tynsong emphasized the importance of respecting the status quo agreement signed by both sides, which requires mutual agreement for any projects or activities in areas of difference. “We have already instructed the district administration both DC and SP to make sure that the status quo has to be respected. Those people who stay in such areas of difference need to respect the status quo or agreement made,” he said.
Tynsong is scheduled to meet with the Waheh Shnong (headmen) on Friday to discuss the issue further.
Regarding demands for setting up a border post, Tynsong said that it may not be a permanent solution to the issue. “Not necessarily only setting up of the police outpost can resolve the issue, if the boundary issue is not resolved,” he said.
The Deputy Chief Minister emphasized that resolving the boundary issue is the priority for both the governments of Assam and Meghalaya. “Once that is done, I am very sure this kind of problem will not happen,” he added.
On Wednesday, a crowd of over 400 people from Lapangap village and adjoining villages along with pressure groups dismantled a wooden structure and uprooted tree saplings as a mark of protest against the plantation activities carried out by the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC), which according to them was an attempt to illegally encroach into Meghalaya territory.
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