Hynniewtrep Nations ask Centre to sort out boundary row

Shillong, July 23 (UNI) The Assembly Of Hynniewtrep Nations (AHNs) in Meghalaya today sought the state and Centre's intervention into the harassment faced by the tribal Khasi-Pnar villagers of Block I and II in Asom.

The AHNs also urged the state government to take up the matter on a priority basis with the Centre to constitute a high level inquiry into the unwarranted assault and intimidation especially to the Khasi-Pnar women.

''The Meghalaya government should immediately send its representatives, either Ministers or Parliamentary Secretaries, to visit the affected people and investigate the atrocities and human rights violation committed on the Khasi-Pnar people by the forest and police officials of Asom in the Karimganj District,'' AHNs Chairman John F Kharshiing said.

Mr Kharshiing said the Khasi-Pnar settlers in Badsahitilla (Rejab basti), Dosdawa, Soidawa, Torjacherra, Churaibari, Patiala, Choidawa Dosdawa and Sagholmoha, Khakra range of Karimganj District in Asom faced continuous harassment and assault from Asom police and forest officials.

The harassment, kidnapping and loss of life and property to people in Block I and II was because of the lack of responsibility on the part of the state and central government to settle the long pending border dispute between the two states, he said.

''The state and central governments should provide central legislation where constitutional boundaries between States should not affect the Administrative, Judicial, and Legislative powers and rights of the indigenous institutions and their people under the Khasi, Garo&Jaintia Hima or Elaka,'' Mr Kharshiing said.

Recalling Chief Minister D D Lapang's statement that solving the border dispute with Asom would be priorities in the five-year rule of his government, the AHNs said with barely seven months left to complete the five year term, the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government had shown little or no signs of meeting its priority.

UNI