CCIB suspends agitations in Meghalaya

Shillong, Apr 8 (UNI) The Coordination Committee on International Border (CCIB) has temporarily suspended its proposed agitation in Meghalaya after the National Building Construction Corporation(NBCC) postponed its border fencing work along the India-Bangladesh border in the state.

''We have temporarily suspended all forms of agitations following the government's decision to keep in abeyance all fencing work along Khasi-Jaintia hills districts border with Bangladesh,'' CCIB spokesman G H Kharshanlor said here today.

Earlier, five mass organisations, under the banner of CCIB, called for a two-day office picketing and 48-hour road blockade in the state's Khasi-Jaintia Hills districts protesting against the ongoing fencing work.

Picketing would have started from April 10 and will be followed by a 48-hour road blockade from 0500 hrs on April 12 to April 14.

The Meghalaya government also directed the NBCC to suspend all border fencing in the disputed areas along the state's international border with Bangladesh until problems such as loss of agricultural lands, alienation of people and land compensation are solved.

Mr Kharshanlor said the CCIB have also decided to reciprocate to Deputy Chief Minister Dr Donkupar Roy's invitation to discuss on fencing issue in the state.

Dr Roy, who heads the Coordination Committee on Border Fencing, has invited the CCIB leaders for talks on April 22 here.

The CCIB was against the Centre's decision to fence the Indo-Bangladesh border, 150 yards from the zero line.

They had even served a 72-hour 'quit notice' to NBCC workers engaged here, alleging the NBCC had violated the government notification, which directed them to suspend work in all disputed areas between Nongjri in East Khasi Hills and Jaliakhola in Jaintia Hills.

UNI