Armed with 'documents'; Meghalaya stakes claim on disputed tracts

FROM OUR STAFF CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG, July 30: Meghalya has officially justified its claims over the twelve areas of dispute with Assam by submitting all the relevant documents and arguments to the Government of Assam as far as July 2012.

These disputed areas which the two states termed as 'area of differences' are Upper Tarabari, Gizang reserve forest, Hahim, Langpih (Lumpi), Borduar Boklapara, Nongwah-Mawtamur (Bordeing West Khasi Hills and Kamrup) ,Khapara-Pillangkatta, Desh Demoreah and Block 2 (bordering Ri-Bhoi and Kamrup and Karbi-Anglong), Block 1 Khaduli-Psiar and Ratacherra (bordering Jaintia Hills district with Karbi-Anglong and Barak valley).

Papers submitted by Meghalya to Assam (available with The Sentinel) reads that Torabari is a 4.69 sq mile area that was taken over by the British from Rambrai Syiemship before handing Nonglang Sirship through the Deputy Commissioner order on February 22 of 1879. The notification of 1876 corroborate this area is historically part of the Khasi state, justified the official claims even it argued that the 1951 delimitation  of district council constituencies shows it part of constituency No eleven (11) and 1972 delimitation includes it in constituency number one (1).

Gizan with an area of 13.53 square Kms was part of Rambrai Syiemship and the British transferred to Sordarship of Khasi and Jaintia Hills through an order in February 2, 1879. Even the mauzadar collect and deposit the revenue in Shillong treasury. The notification of 1876 will suffice to declare the place of being part of Meghalya.

On the contentious 3.51 square Kms in Hahim, Meghalya claims that it was part of Rambrai Syiemship and was under the jurisdiction of Khasi and Jaintia Hills district as per the notification No 1430 dated 14.september 1876. The then commissioner has asked the Deputy Commissioner of Khasi Jaintia Hills to collect tax through a notification in 1877.In 1961 census; it shows that it is part of Nongpoh police station while Athiabari and Lejudubi is part of 22-mawthengkut constituency as per the electoral rolls of 1970.

On the more contentious Langpih (Lumpi), the Government of Meghalya stated that It is historically part of Raid Mynsaw and rambrai Syiemship. In 1872, a map prepared by the Surveyor general of India (Colnel Thuillier) and counter signed by the Deputy Commissioner Khasi and Jaintia Hills –the boundary between Kamrup,Khasi and jaintia Hills, Garo hills and Goalpara defined –Langpih as shown within Khasi Jaintia Hills.

It further asserted that in 1875 the D.C of Khasi and Jaintia Hills receed the area and suggested the boundary line between Kamrup and Khasi and jaintia Hills district where all the higher ranges inhabited purely by the mountaineers of the khasi race, including Langpih ,to fall within Khasi and jaintia Hills district. These disputed areas cover 298.07 square kms.

The Boklapra is historically part of Nongspung Syiemship as per the order by the Secretary Political in 1938. The 1961 and 1971 census shows this area under Nongpoh Police station. It was also part of the Khasi and Jaintia Autonomous District Council of 1951 and as per the delimitation of 1972, it falls under Jirang constituency.

The Nonwah-Mawtamur area covering 137.51 square km is historically part of the Nongwah Syiemship but was taken over by the British when Syiem died without a male successor. Census reports of 1961 and 1971 shows that it falls under Nongpoh Police station part of delimitated constituency number 17 of the Khasi and Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council and part of the delimited Jirang constituency in 1972.

The Khapara-Pilangkatta stretch belongs to the Mylliemship as per the letter of the Deputy Commissioner of Kamrup in 1871. Due to expediency the boundary was altered but the mahal rights remained with the Syiem of Mylliem and this was confirmed by the Deputy Superintendent revenue Survey (dated 5-12.1871).

Asserting its claims over Desh Doomreah, Meghalya cited the report of AGM Mills, Judge Sadar Court of September 153 to proof that the 484.72 square Km of land historically belongs to Mylliem Syiemship and hence Meghalya.

On the Khanduli-Psiar area that measures around 64 square Km, Meghalya submission is that there was a wrong interpretation/demarcation on grounds by ignoring the tural features besides alleging that the demarcation was carried out unilaterally by Assam. However, It maintained that the Topo sheets of the survey of India in 1958 show these areas of falling under the present Meghalya state. It further substantiated by citing the 1951, 1961 and 1951 census that indicates that it falls under Ralig and Nongjngi Doloiship.

Meghalya claims over the eastern portion of Ratacherra is based on the 1961 and 1971 census besides pointing out that it falls under 15-rpuh Khasi and Jaintia Hills delimited seat of 1951. Census reports of 1961 and 1971 pointed out that it falls under Jowai Police station, the papers submitted to Assam Government.

On Block 1 and Block 2 the two areas that are under the administrative rule of Karbi Anglong district council, Meghalya contended the tagging of block 1 and 2 with the then Mikir hills was resented by the people. The official papers submitted to Assam also reminded that in 1971 the Chief Ministers of Assam and Meghalaya took a view that comparative population of Karbis and Jaintias be accepted as the guiding principle in deciding the issue.