Assam Meghalaya

Guwahati, Sept 30: Aimed at resolving inter-state boundary issues, Chief Ministers Himanta Biswa Sarma of Assam and Conrad K Sangma of Meghalaya engaged in productive talks at the State Guest House in Koinadhara. The meeting, held in a cordial atmosphere, yielded several key decisions aimed at facilitating cooperation and understanding between the two states.

One of the pivotal decisions made during the Chief Minister level talks was the discontinuation of the Judicial Commission that was initially tasked with investigating the Mukroh firing incident. Instead, it was decided that the case would be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), ensuring a thorough and impartial inquiry. Importantly, the CBI will conduct its investigation in a neutral location, distinct from Guwahati and Shillong, to uphold the integrity and impartiality of the process.

Furthermore, both Chief Ministers, Himanta Biswa Sarma and Conrad K Sangma, have committed to personally visiting the Khanduli inter-state boundary outpost. This visit is scheduled to take place in the latter part of October this year. By experiencing the situation firsthand, the leaders aim to gain deeper insights into the challenges and dynamics of the region.

In a move towards de-escalation and impartial oversight, Assam and Meghalaya have mutually agreed to withdraw their respective police forces from the Khanduli area, situated along the Assam-Meghalaya border in West Karbi Anglong on the Assam side and West Jaintia Hills on the Meghalaya side. To ensure a neutral presence and maintain peace, the area will now be patrolled and managed by Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel.

Another noteworthy development from the meeting is the commitment to resolve all existing boundary disputes in six areas between the two states by the end of this year, setting a clear deadline of December 31. This proactive approach reflects the dedication of both Assam and Meghalaya to finding peaceful and amicable solutions to longstanding territorial issues.

The Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Conrad K Sangma, Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar, Assam’s Agriculture Minister Atul Bora, and Environment and Forest Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary were among the key officials present at the meeting.

It’s important to note that official-level discussions to address disputes in the remaining six contentious areas have been ongoing between the two neighboring states. The May 24 meeting between Sarma and Sangma laid the foundation for further discussions, recognizing the complexity of the border issue.

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Meghalaya’s emergence as a separate state in 1972 led to disputes in 12 areas along the 884.9 km border shared with Assam, challenging the Assam Reorganisation Act of 1971.

Upon assuming office in May 2021, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma made it a top priority to resolve the long-standing boundary disputes with Assam’s neighboring states. In August 2021, three regional committees were established to address these issues in a phased manner.

These committees submitted their recommendations, which were subsequently handed over to Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi by the two Chief Ministers. The culmination of these efforts came with the signing of a memorandum of understanding on March 29, 2022, aimed at resolving disputes in six of the total 12 disputed areas. According to this agreement, a total of 36.79 sq km of disputed territory was targeted for resolution, with Assam gaining control of 18.51 sq km and Meghalaya overseeing 18.28 sq km.

As Assam and Meghalaya commit to these diplomatic and pragmatic measures, there is optimism that the longstanding border issues can be resolved in the spirit of cooperation and mutual understanding.