Guwahati, Sept 23: An inquiry commission appointed by the Assam government to investigate a deadly clash at the Assam-Meghalaya border, which resulted in six fatalities, has submitted its report. The one-person commission, led by Justice (Retd) Rumi Kumari Phukan, handed over the report to the additional chief secretary of the home and political department of the Assam government.
The clash occurred on November 22, 2022, at the disputed Mukroh village in West Karbi Anglong district. However, the contents and recommendations of the report have not been disclosed to the public.
The commission was granted two extensions, with a deadline of September 22, 2023, for completing the investigation. During the inquiry, a significant number of witnesses and documents provided by the Forest and Police departments and various organizations were examined.
The violence resulted in six deaths, including a forest guard and five Meghalaya residents. It transpired when Assam forest personnel intercepted a truck allegedly carrying illegally felled timber. The confrontation occurred between a joint team of the Assam Police-Forest Protection Force and Mukroh villagers in the West Jaintia Hills district of Meghalaya.
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The disputed area on the Assam side is situated near Makoilum village within the Kheroni forest range. This entire conflict area falls within a disputed border location between Assam and Meghalaya, with both states asserting that the incident took place in their respective territories.
On November 24, 2022, the Assam government announced the formation of the Inquiry Commission, chaired by Justice (Retd) Phukan, to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident. The commission was given a two-month timeframe to conduct the inquiry and submit its findings.
Assam and Meghalaya have long-standing border disputes in 12 areas along their 884.9-km-long inter-state border. The site of the clash is one of these contentious areas. In March 2022, the two states signed a memorandum of understanding, in the presence of Union home minister Amit Shah in New Delhi, aimed at resolving disputes in six areas. Meghalaya, which was carved out of Assam in 1972, has contested the Assam Reorganisation Act, 1971, which Assam recognizes as its border.
The report’s findings and subsequent actions by the governments of Assam and Meghalaya may have significant implications for the resolution of border disputes and the maintenance of peace along their shared border.
