Sangma petitions Delhi on Langpih

Shillong, July 11: Meghalaya today reiterated its plea for central intervention on the border imbroglio with Assam as activists continued their fast-unto-death at Langpih to press for a solution to the inter-state row.

Chief minister Mukul Sangma said he had discussed the situation prevailing in the border areas of the state during a meeting with Union home minister P. Chidambaram before leaving New Delhi and hoped that the Centre would intervene. “I will divulge what transpired at the meeting when I get back (to Shillong),” he added.

Last week, the state government had sent a detailed report to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Chidambaram, apprising them of the boundary situation.

In May this year, when tension simmered at Langpih, on the fringes of West Khasi Hills and Kamrup districts, the chief minister had sought Chidambaram’s intervention to prevail upon the Assam government to desist from indulging in activities that could escalate tension in the areas of differences between the two states.

At Langpih, Pynskhembor Nongshlong, who has been on fast-unto-death since June 30 along with seven others, refused to end his hunger strike despite a “written assurance” from the state government this morning. In the seven-point letter signed by the secretary, political department, F. Kharlyngdoh, the state government reiterated that it would accord topmost priority to find a solution to the long-pending border imbroglio and also claimed that steps had been taken to provide peace and security to the people living along the border areas.

However, sources said, the 28-year-old “refused” to accept the written assurance, saying it did not meet their demands.

People’s Movement, a conglomerate of public representatives, civil society and social organisations, has been able to bring together most pressure groups in Jaintia Hills district under its banner to step up pressure on the government to settle the border row at the earliest.

In a meeting held at Jowai, the district headquarters of Jaintia Hills, today, the People’s Movement chose Baitlang Pohsngap as its district convener. Its chairman and UDP legislator Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit also attended the meet. He appealed to all government servants in Khasi and Jaintia hills to cooperate with the People’s Movement during office picketing on Friday.

However, all educational institutions have been exempted from the picketing.