From a Correspondent

SHILLONG, July 6: The high-level delegation of the Meghalaya Government has failed to convince 28-year- old Pynskhemlang Nongshlong and his group to give up their fast-unto-death agitation.

The delegation which visited Langpih in Meghalaya’s West Khasi Hills district to assess the situation in the border village arising out of the protest could not provide any commitment to those participating in the hunger strike.

Meghalaya Home Minister HDR Lyngdoh assured the agitators that the government was taking concrete steps to resolve the boundary dispute with neighbouring Assam.

“We are finding ways and means to find a permanent solution to the long pending border issue,” Lyngdoh told the agitators led by Nongshlong.

The Home Minister also told the agitators that the government was trying to convince the Centre to form the boundary commission as passed by the State Assembly.

The agitators, however, demanded that a definite time frame should be chalked out by the State Government to resolve the long pending border row with Assam.

“We would like the government to give us a definite date from when the governments of both Assam and Meghalaya are expected to start their inspection to verify the boundaries,” Nongshlong said.

However, Lyngdoh did not committ to the protestors immediately and told them that their demands would be conveyed to Chief Minister Mukul Sangma.

On the seventh day of the fast, another person has been hospitalized after his health deteriorated on Friday.

State Government officials from West Khasi Hills informed that Honestar Marbaniang (35) was shifted to the Nongstoin Civil Hospital on Friday.