Shillong, Dec 5: The Synjuk ki Rangbah Shnong Border Area Raid Nongtung wanted the state government to establish border outposts or temporary police outposts in Umlaper or Ummat and Umtlieh village.
The villages fall under Ri Bhoi district.
The traditional body and MDC Charles Marngar had earlier met Chief Minister Conrad Sangma and KHADC CEM T. Chyne to discuss the steps to carry forward the border talks between Assam and Meghalaya.
President of the Synjuk, Blikstar Sontun told reporters on Monday that the people residing in border areas, while appreciating the move of the government to put up seven police outposts, were shocked to know that these out posts will not come up n disputed areas but they will be planned in the middle of the villages.
According to Sohtun, since the border residents are harrassed by the Assam police and forest officials, the border talks should be stopped till the outposts are set up in the disputed areas under Block II.
“Meghalaya should set up police out posts along all disputed areas especially in Umlaper or Ummat and Umtlieh village to provide security to the people living along the Assam borders and especially to prevent the Assam police and forest officials from harassing our fellow brothers and sisters” Sohtun said.
According to Sohtun, since its inception, Assam government had set up BOPs in Umrup, Sabuda, Umlaper, Madan Umwang and Umtlieh villages and this has resulted in police and forest personnel to harass the Meghalaya residents.
He alleged that Meghalaya farmers who move through these villages are being compelled to pay Rs 200 to Rs. 8000 per vehicle by those who man the Assam forest check gate.
Sohtun said though there is one police outpost in Mawlasnai village, it failed to provide security to the people since it is 20 to 30 km away from the sensitive Umlaper and Ummat villages.
The MDC of Mawhati, Charles Marngar alleged that the failure of the state government to set up police outposts in disputed areas gives rise to the impression that Meghalaya is soft unlike Assam government.
The MDC alleged that Meghalaya government has failed to provide safety to the people residing in border areas.
The government should first set up border outposts in the sensitive areas before carrying on with border talks, he said.
“We have taken a decision to oppose the plan of the state government to set up police outposts in Thangrang and Tyrso as this will not be helpful for the residents of these border areas” Marngar said.
Marngar said in the meeting with the CEM of KHADC, the issue of establishing police outposts in Umlaper or Ummat and Umtlieh villages were discussed.
The CEM assured the delegation that he will write to the state government to pursue the matter.
