Assam and Meghalaya to resolve Inter-State border dispute soon
Hills Live News Desk
Sushanta Roy
Diphu June 1: The people of Karbi Anglong have expressed deep concern over the prolonged inter-state boundary dispute between Assam and Meghalaya, particularly regarding Block I and II of West Karbi Anglong.
Some social organizations have strongly rejected claims by some Meghalaya groups that these areas historically belong to the Jaintia Hills, asserting instead that they have been part of the traditional Karbi Kingdom.
According to community leaders, the areas in question historically fell under the Karbi Kingdom, with its capital at Socheng, located just 10 km from Khanduli.
The present Karbi king resides at the temporary capital Rong Arak (Ronghang Rongbong), about 12 km from Hamren, the headquarters of West Karbi Anglong District.
Organizations have pointed to official records from the early 1950s. When the Karbi Anglong district (then Mikir Hills) was created on November 17, 1951, the inhabited areas of the Karbis from Sivasagar and Nowgong districts, along with Mikir-dominated areas of the Jowai sub-division (Block I & II), were included in the new region.
This was done through Government of Assam Notification No. TAD/R/31/50 dated October 3, 1950, and subsequently approved by the Governor of Assam.
The community has demanded that the Government of Meghalaya honor this notification and respect the historical and administrative boundaries.
Tensions along the border flared up last year when a Karbi farmer, Oriwel Timung, was killed during a clash in Tapat village, a sensitive flashpoint area.
The incident occurred amid routine paddy harvesting activities. According to reports from Tapat Police Station, Timung succumbed to injuries sustained in police firing during the confrontation between local farmers and security forces.
The episode highlighted long-simmering disputes over land and resources.
In the last month, again tensions escalated at Tapat village when some Khasi people attempted to enter Assam territory for paddy harvesting, leading to a tense situation along the volatile inter-state border.
Later in a positive development, Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma and Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma met on Friday and decided to fast-track the resolution of the inter-state border dispute.
A delegation led by Sangma held discussions on multiple issues concerning both states. The two Chief Ministers agreed to accelerate the boundary demarcation process to arrive at a lasting solution.
A high-level delegation comprising Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) Chief Executive Member and newly elected MLA Dr. Tuliram Ronghang, MP Amarsing Tisso, and four other newly elected MLAs had planned to visit the sensitive Tapat area on Monday, June 1, to assess the ground situation.
However, the visit was cancelled due to unavoidable circumstances. As per reliable sources the visit program will be held very soon.
The border issue continues to remain a matter of significant concern for the indigenous Karbi population, who seek an early and just resolution that respects historical facts and administrative records.