JACAS alleges Government of failure in protecting Karbi Anglong boundary

A Correspondent

Diphu: The Joint Action Committee for Autonomous States (JACAS) held a press conference at District Press Club Office, Diphu on Tuesday, regarding the June 14 incident where a BOP set up at Khatkhasala (near Umkhirmi) under Zirikinding PS, West Karbi Anglong, was demolished by Assam Police personnel.

“The incident has caused tension in the area. The people living along the border are apprehensive that something might go wrong. The district administration and the law and order authority of West Karbi Anglong, therefore, should take necessary measures to restore peace and harmony along the border. The KAAC and the Government of Assam should also take up the matter with the Government of Meghalaya and district administrations concerned to defuse the tension and to maintain status,” said Khorsing Teron, chairman of JACAS.

Karbi Anglong (previously known as Mikir Hills, and bifurcated in 2016) is part of the greater Karbi territory which, during the British rule, was known and recorded as Mikir Hills Tract. In 1951, Mikir Hills along with North Cachar Hills district was constituted into an autonomous district called ‘United Mikir and North Cachar Hills District’ as provided under Paragraph 1 (1) of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution; and its boundary has been notified by the Government of Assam, Tribal Affairs Department’s Notification No TAD/R/31/50/151 dated April 13, 1951. Encroachment into the defined territory or interference in internal affairs of Karbi Anglong by any authority or any group of persons, therefore, is unwarranted and unconstitutional.

“Student and youth organizations have focused on inter-State border with Nagaland and inter-district border with Golaghat, Nagaon and Hojai at different times but the KAAC remains indifferent. The KAAC should know the boundary of Karbi Anglong and it is the responsibility of the KAAC to ensure the boundary of Karbi Anglong is demarcated as per the aforesaid notification of the Government of Assam. The District Council of Karbi Anglong opted to remain with Assam when the Meghalaya Autonomous State was created in 1969, but the Government of Assam has failed to protect the boundary of Karbi Anglong, Statehood for Karbi Anglong, therefore, is a must to protect the boundary of these particular tribal areas,” said Teron.

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