Conrad takes up Mallangkona Salbari unrest with Himanta ** M’laya Govt orders probe
HT Bureau
SHILLONG, May 25: Meghalaya chief minister Conrad K Sangma on Wednesday said the Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has assured to issue immediate instruction to the Assam Police to ensure that the situation along the inter-state border in West Khasi Hills District does not aggravate.
His statement came after Assam Police had resorted to lathicharge against the residents of Malang Huhapra in West Khasi Hills District, who were protesting against the arrest of two villagers.
The Assam police had allegedly tried to stop construction works at Mallangkona Salbari.
Sangma informed that he has asked the police to investigate the incidents and that he has also taken up the matter with his counterpart in Assam and asked that necessary action should be taken so that these kinds of incidents should not be allowed to happen in the future.
“Last evening itself I had a discussion with the Assam chief minister and he has assured me that necessary instructions will be given to the SP and the police of the district to ensure this kind of situation does not happen again,” he told reporters.
The chief minister asserted the need for both the states to handle the issue with care.
“We need to show restraint. He (Sarma) was also concerned about this issue and he has assured me that he will get the necessary action done that this kind of incident should not happen in the future and the police will be asked to maintain restraint especially keeping in mind that discussion on the border issue is still on. Therefore, to avoid any kind of confusion or any aggravation in the situation, such kinds of acts should be avoided,” he stated.
Second phase of border talks: Sangma further said that he and his Assam counterpart will soon start the second phase of border talks for resolving the remaining six areas of difference shared between the two states.
“We have discussed and we have been speaking to each other but we have not been able to find the time as so many issues are there and Assam also has some elections coming up. So once these are over, I hope that very soon we will be able to initiate discussion on the second phase of the border talks,” Sangma said.
Maintaining the reviewing of the MoU will never happen, the chief minister said, “We have gone ahead with this agreement.” He said he would be happy to meet those opposing the MoU on the matter.
