Shillong, July 30: Stating that the violent clashes and disputes over inter-state boundaries in the region are threatening to derail the hard-fought progress and peace, Congress MP from Shillong, Vincent H. Pala has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for expeditious resolution to the boundary disputes between the states in the North East region once and for all.

His letter comes at the backdrop of the violent clash between Assam Police and Mizoram Police and local residents at Assam – Mizoram inter-state border at Assam’s Cachar District that led to deaths of five Assam Police personnel and injuries to hundreds on July 26, 2021.

In his letter written on Friday, Pala said, “On behalf of the peace-loving people of Meghalaya, I sincerely urge you to address this issue at the earliest. The progress of the region has been fought for long and hard, and it would be a matter of great regret to let that wither away. I earnestly hope that this matter is taken up urgently so as to establish cordial relations and resolve such disputes in a timely manner.”

He said the recent occurrences in the North-East region have once again highlighted the violent clashes and disputes over inter-state boundaries that have threatened the peace and stability of the region for decades now.

He noted that it is widely acknowledged that, excluding the princely states of Tripura and Manipur, all other states have a long boundary dispute with Assam.

According to him, this has also given rise to disputes over land, forest resources and ethnic clashes, and can be seen in relations of Assam viz-a-viz states like Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Nagaland and Meghalaya.

“We have covered a long way in neutralising certain violent and disturbing threats to the peace of the region and such apprehensions do not augur well for the progress that has been made. Provocations and aggressive posturing at the borders of smaller states is perilous to healthy neighbourly relations,” Pala said in his letter.