Shillong, IN
2:51 am,
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Tura, IN
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Staff Reporter
Shillong, Sept 20: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma today informed that the border talks with Assam for resolving the remaining six areas of difference will take place in the first week or second week of October.
Replying to a zero-hour notice moved by VPP MLA from Nongkrem Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit in the Assembly, Sangma said the Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma was recently in Shillong for a function and held a closed-door discussion with him regarding the border issue.
“We had decided a few things in that meeting and we will formally take those decisions forward in the next official meeting to be held sometime in the first or second week of October,” he said.
Sangma said after the meeting that the chief ministers of the two states would also visit Khanduli and other areas to send the message of peace.
“I and the Assam chief minister intend to visit Khanduli and other areas and the exact locations, we are yet to finalise. We will have a meeting in that area to meet the concerned stakeholders and ensure we send a message of peace.”
He said that the meeting held in Shillong was very productive and both states are looking forward to implementing the important decisions taken in the upcoming meeting to be held in October.
Earlier, Basaiawmoit condemned the statement of the Karbi Students Association (KSA) that a Manipur-like situation may occur if they lose their land and said, “The statement made by the leader of KSA is sufficient enough to create disharmony in the border areas.”
He also wanted to know whether the state government has taken this matter with its counterpart in order to ensure the maintenance of harmony in the border area.
To this, the Chief Minister said while the regional committee meeting was still in progress on August 16, the Karbi Students Association (KSA) came to the venue and met the regional committee members after the meeting concluded.
Thereafter, the president of KSA appeared before the media and it was during the said briefing that the president stated that “a Manipur-like situation may occur if we lose our lands, warn KSA”.
He however said, “This matter was not entertained by the Assam Minister, Piyush Hazarika who rebuked the person stating that such a statement should not be made to aggravate the situation. The minister mentioned that the aim of the committee is to bring peace and harmony between the two communities and to find out the best possible solution to resolve the border issues.”
He informed that earlier on August 30, 2023, the Jaintia Students’ Movement and KSA held a meeting in Diphu, East Karbi Anglong District, Assam in which they discussed the parameters to bring peace and normalcy along the Assam-Meghalaya border.
During the meeting, the Students Committee for Peace Initiative was formed and the committee will work on how to bring back life to normal on the interstate border and ease the communal tension.
They had also decided that representatives of the two NGOs would visit the border villages along with village elders. Further, it was decided that a similar meeting will be convened in Jowai in the coming days.
The main purpose of the meeting is to find ways and means to end the turmoil in the border areas.
Stating that as of date, the situation in the area is under close watch, the chief minister assured that all efforts are being put into ensuring that law and order in the area will not be breached adding that the district police are on high alert and regular patrolling is being conducted in and around the area.
The police are also regularly meeting the village elders and the general public, appealing to them to maintain peace and tranquillity in the area.
He informed that sufficient force has been deployed in Khanduli, Lapngap, Saitsama Outpost and Nartiang police station to deal with the law and order situation in the area.
“Apart from these efforts, there is also constant communication and coordination with the counterparts of Assam to maintain law and order in the area and most importantly to ensure that normalcy in the area is not disrupted,” he added.
Meanwhile, Sangma informed the House that the government of the day is working tirelessly towards ensuring that peace and harmony prevail along the inter-state border, and the issue of border conflicts are resolved permanently.
He said one of the endeavours of the government of the day is the sanctioning of 7 border outposts which are the Rani-Jirang BOP in Ri Bhoi, Langpih BOP and Umwali BOP in West Khasi Hills, Mooriap BOP in East Jaintia Hills, Tihwieh BOP and Mukroh BOP in West Jaintia Hills.
The creation of these BOPs has greatly contributed towards the prevention of border conflicts and most importantly, has augmented the strength of police officials in the field.
Further, Sangma said that “the initiative of the government of the day to resolve the border disputes in six areas of difference during the first phase of border settlement and the ongoing second phase of border settlement between the two states, is a testament to the fact that the government of the day is committed to ensuring peace and tranquillity prevails in the border areas and that border disputes are resolved permanently”.
Staff Reporter
Shillong, Sept 18: The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) has demanded the State government to immediately remove of the illegal BSF camps at Sonapyrdi, Ratacherra and Hingaria and to set up an additional anti-infiltration check gate along the National Highway-6 in East Jaintia Hills District.
In a memorandum to the deputy chief minister in-charge Home (Police) Prestone Tynsong today, KSU-EJHD Unit president Streamly N Suchen said, “(We) requests your immediate action to remove these illegal BSF camps and be relocated to the remote border areas of the country and also to take cognizance of their atrocities and be held accountable for their actions and we remain hopeful that you will take suitable measures to alleviate the distress faced by the people living in the vicinity of the BSF camp at Sonapyrdi, Ratacherra, and Hingaria.”
He said a series of serious complaints have been received about the dictatorial control and high-handedness of the BSF within the surrounding areas of NH-6 road.
Suchen said on March 2, 2023, a group of BSF personnel in full uniform and armed duty attacked a student of one Huroi village while he was on his way to school.
“This incident has left the villagers feeling vulnerable and living in fear. This act has caused the villagers and the union to strongly condemn the actions of these personnel and moreover, several attempts were made by the BSF to create fear and hostility among the local people,” he added.
He said that the reported instances of harassment range from undue interrogations, frequent vehicle searches, intimidation tactics, and disrespect towards the local community. These actions have resulted in a sense of fear and insecurity among the residents, negatively impacting their daily lives and overall well-being.
“Such behaviour is regrettable and not in line with the principles of fairness and respect that our administration seeks to uphold,” Suchen said while reiterating the demand to remove or relocate the BSF camps to ensure the safety to the people from the affected areas.
Further, the KSU-EJHDU also demands that the State government set up an additional ant-infiltration check gate along the NH-6, particularly at Tongseng, to check the flow of illegal immigration from neighbouring Bangladesh.
Suchen said the KSU Narpuh circle had recently managed to capture the free flow of these alleged suspected Bangladeshi immigrants from Kuliang forest crossing the border.
He said a series of these immigrants have been detected and foiled many times by the union and Dorbar Shnong respectively and has also been booked under certain provisions of the law.
“This constant flow of illegal immigrants has been a great concern whereby if not being detained one can stem other issues and result to crimes.”
Referring to the murder of a woman allegedly by Bangladeshi immigrants, Suchen said through the testimonies of local residents and corroborating evidence, that the existing check gates in the region are ill-equipped to handle the volume of immigrants passing through. Particularly, the lack of an infiltration check gate at Tongseng has paved the way for an unmanageable influx of illegal immigrants into the district. This situation has caused distress and concern among the local population, as well as jeopardizing the security and stability of the region.
“In order to safeguard the interests of the people of East Jaintia Hills and maintain the integrity of our borders, we humbly request your intervention in establishing a new infiltration check gate at Tongseng,” he said while adding this strategic location is poised to become a major entry point for illegal immigrants due to its proximity to areas known for high instances of infiltration.
Staff Reporter
Shillong, Sept 14: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma today said issues related to the long pending boundary dispute with Assam can only be resolved through discussion and dialogue but not through confrontation.
His statement came after the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) Laban Circle had threatened to close down the Karbi Hemtun (Guest House) if the Karbi people and Assam government continue to illegally encroach and harass Khasi people in West Jaintia Hills District.
The Karbi Hemtun was inaugurated jointly by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Meghalaya Chief Minister on Wednesday.
Speaking to reporters at the sidelines of a function, Sangma said that confrontation is not the solution.
“We are in India and obviously we have to work and discuss matters and live in peace and harmony. There are challenges, there are complications which we have to work out but it cannot be worked out by confrontation. Solutions can only come with discussion and dialogue, with understanding and trust and hence we need to ensure that we build that trust with our counterparts, be firmed with our negotiations and our terms, find ways in which we can accommodate each other and obviously in important occasions like these, these are trust-building measures,” he said.
He added, “So tomorrow you want to put up a Meghalaya House in Assam or Guwahati and if somebody says well you cannot do it, I don’t think that is a trust-building mechanism.”
“Yes, I am not saying that there are no concerns, there are concerns but to resolve those concerns, confrontation is not the solution. We need to work together to build trust and in an amicable manner move forward and that is what the message was yesterday (during the inauguration of the Karbi House),” the CM said.
Meanwhile, Sangma informed that the chief ministers of Assam and Meghalaya will finalise a firm program related to the second phase of border talks, in the next couple of days.
Varalika Mishra
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According to reports, most girls die by suicide due to the discrimination they face after being rescued. According to Pallabi, the real work starts post-rescue as that is when a supportive environment needs to be provided to the survivors for holistic development, and it is not an easy job to implement. Pallabi is the founder of Impact and Dialogue Foundation which helps in implementing various workshops for the survivors and in sensitizing the system about trafficking.
Impact and Dialogue Foundation provides destigmatization workshops for the members of the system, like families, social welfare officers, police, and other stakeholders, ensuring that they look at the survivor with dignity. It is crucial to realize that survivors are not responsible for getting trafficked in society. “I need much assistance in making people understand that trafficked survivors must heal and reliving the stories repeatedly through different types of questioning by the media and courts further aggravates their pain,” says Ghosh.
Impact and Dialogue Foundation creating a difference
“Our work is creating a difference. We have girls coming up sharing their stories, being a part of the policy and decision-making process, are a part of our stitching centres, along with kitchen gardens and self-help groups. They earn some money which gives them empowerment. We conduct vocational training and arrange for the survivors to learn computer skills and English-speaking courses to build their confidence further. We drive various workshops to help them get skilled and represent themselves in society,” adds Pallabi. With Impact & Dialogue Foundation, she aims to create awareness about trafficking of all forms. Contact +91-9811737441, Email- impactdialoguefoundation@gmail.com for any assistance.