Shillong, Oct 7: Cabinet minister and chairman of the regional committee for West Khasi Hills Paul Lyngdoh on Friday said the joint site visit to Langpih sector and submission of reports by the regional committees of Assam and Meghalaya will be completed within this month.
Addressing the media, Lyngdoh said that the Assam cabinet minister Chandra Mohan Patowary is currently on tour. “Once he (Patowary) reaches Guwahati, we should be able to finalise the date (for conducting the joint site visit to Langpih sector),” he said.
“We will also try to come up with a report that the two committees shared which means it will be a comprehensive single report prepared by the 2 regional committees,” Lyngdoh said while adding “Both the site visit and submission of report will be completed within this October.”
The recently held chief minister-level border talks between Assam and Meghalaya had decided to deploy the central reserve police force (CRPF) as a neutral force in the disputed areas.
Lyngdoh however maintained that the central force will not be deployed at the Langpih sector.
“No, because as of date reports that have emerged from langpih does indicate any possibility of skirmishes or conflicts so these forces will only be deployed in high sensitive locations where troubles have broken out or have the potential of breaking out,” he said.
Admitting that encroachment by Assam has been happening for several decades, Lyngdoh said, “But I can assure that once we are in a position to finally settled all aeras wherever we have differences which is now six areas (from 12 it has come down to 6) – once that is in place we will be able to resolve the matter.”
Stating that the government is taking steps to strengthen the state police, the minister said, “You are aware that currently 2500 youths are undergoing training and they will be complete their training in the next couple of months and then join the state police and apart from that about 4000 new vacancies will also be filled up subsequently meaning by next year.”
Asked, Lyngdoh said, “The final recommendation of the two regional committees since we are also going to the sites that will form the basis of the final MoU. So you know we might have picked the name of a village one or two but finally it will be what the two regional committees will recommend and hopefully will do that jointly so that it becomes easier for the two state governments to get acceptable.”
On NGOs opposing and terming the government’s decision to withdraw state police force from disputed areas as “misdiagnosing” of the problems faced by the border residents, the minister however said, “if we send Meghalaya police, Assam will object. If Assam sends Assam police Meghalaya will object, if we send paramilitary forces, central forces, some Ngos will object, if we do not send anyone then also you will object. Then who do we send? We cannot leave the area unmanned unguarded because you are objecting to Assam police, Meghalaya police, central forces, army, navy, everyone.”
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