Renikton L. Tongkhar, Meghalaya’s cabinet minister and the head of the regional border committee for
the West Khasi Hills, claimed on Tuesday that Meghalaya had won 21 of the 23 disputed villages in the
first round of the border dispute resolution process and that the decision was solely based on the
willingness of the people.
He continued, ‘Of the 23 villages we have settled, we got 21 and we lost two, and that too based on the will of the people residing in those villages.’ Tongkhar was responding to the recent large protest rally held in Nongstoin against the border agreement signed by Meghalaya and Assam.
The Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) organised the protest march in support of the Hima Nonglang,
who could lose territory in Athiabari and Malangkona to Assam. Tongkhar, who would not elaborate further, stated: ‘The residents of the two villages stated that they wanted to be part of Assam during the joint inspection.’
He said, ‘It is not going to be an easy task. Protests are taking place even as the two states prepare to
meet for talks to resolve the differences in the six remaining areas. Although challenging, it will be
possible.’
The boundary agreement between Meghalaya and Assam on the six ‘less-complicated’ areas was signed in March, despite criticism from some quarters. The two states have decided to proceed with efforts to
settle the dispute in the remaining six areas. After August 15, a procedure will start in order to achieve
this.
Conrad K. Sangma, the chief minister of Meghalaya, had previously stated that he and his Assam
counterpart, CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, had a thorough discussion regarding the issue of resuming
negotiations for the second phase. He promised to meet them in Guwahati soon after the Independence Day festivities. In order to visit the disputed areas, assess the local situation, and solicit the views and opinions of the
locals, both states will once more form regional committees.
It may be mentioned here that the two states have been engaging in continued discussions to resolve
the decade old border disputes that have caused widespread violence, tension on both sides time-to-
time.
