Khasi

Shillong, Jul 24 (UNI) The Khasi Student's Union (KSU) and Karbi Student's Association (KSA) have decided to meet top Karbi militants' leaders of the United People's Democratic Solidarity (UPDS) and Karbi National Volunteers (KNV) to ensure peace among the tribal Khasi and Karbi people residing in Assam.

Today, student leaders from both KSU and KSA and other Karbi organisations met following reports of repeated harassment and ill-treatment of Khasi people in the hands of the Karbi militants in Block 1 and II areas of Assam, bordering Meghalaya.

More than 300 sq. km. under Block-I&II areas on the border had been the bone of contention since the creation of Meghalaya in 1971.

''We have decided to jointly visit Block I and II areas to assess the living condition of the Khasi people residing in those areas, besides meeting Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi,'' KSU Organising Secretary Daniel Khyriem told reporters.

Mr Khyriem, however, did not divulge the date of the proposed visit and a meeting with Mr Gogoi.

KSA leader Mriroy Teron said the proposed meeting with the Assam Chief Minister was mainly to apprise him of the need to resolve the decade-old border dispute between the two states.

In the past, thousands of tribal Khasi-Pnar people residing in Block 1 and II areas were forced to leave the hearths due to harassment and cruelty meted out by the Karbi militants, which resulted the KSU to served ''quit notice'' on the Karbis residing in Meghalaya.

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