Meghalaya govt to set two BOPs in Megh-Asom border

Shillong, Aug 11 (UNI) The Meghalaya government has decided to set up two Border outposts along the Asom border to protect the tribal Khasi-Pnar residing in Block I and II areas.

The two BOPs will be raised up at Psiar village in Jaintia Hills district and another at Sabuda village in Ri-Bhoi district, said Chief Minister J D Rymbai.

Talking to reporters yesterday after holding discussions with the Joint Action Co-Ordination Committee (JACC) on the Meghalaya-Asom border dispute, Mr Rymbai said the government would also set up temporary BOPs in the ''sensitive'' areas of state's border with Asom.

In addition to that, the state government would constitute a committee to co-ordinate between the government and NGOs on this vexed issue.

Earlier, the JACC delegation, led by G H Kharshanlor, urged the state government to remove the three Asom police BOPs located at Khanduli, Sabuda and Moolber in Jaintia Hills district.

The JACC felt that the setting up of these three BOPs in Meghalaya state would further strengthen the Asom government to claim over the disputed areas of Block I and II.

''Asom police continues to harass the Khasi-Pnar people by giving support to Karbi militants,'' the JACC delegation alleged.

The JACC has been demanding from the state government to ask Asom government to retransfer Block I and II areas which is under Asom administration to Meghalaya.

The two Blocks were ''transferred'' from the then United Khasi Jaintia Hills and then tagged with the then Mikir Hills of Assam for better administration.

In June last the United People Democratic Solidarity militant outfit has created a reign of terror against the Khasi-Pnar people residing in the border areas with Asom.

Armed UPDS militants even targeted the Meghalaya police outpost at Khanduli.

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