Assam-Meghalaya boundary row: 4.5 lakh Garos opt to stay with Assam

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: As many as 4.50 lakh people of the Garo community living in 545 border villages in Assam's Kamrup and Goalpara districts have unitedly decided to stay with Assam, even as the neighbouring State has demanded a portion of Assam's land leading to disputes in the boundary between the two States.""We have demanded that the boundary that was demarcated during the creation of Meghalaya in 1972 should be honoured by the two States. More than 4.5 lakh people living in Kamrup and Goalpara district are with Assam, and they do not want to merge with Meghalaya," said Alex K. Sangma, Chairman of the 'Garo Development Council (GDC) here on Saturday.

"We don't want that Assam's land should be handed over to Meghalaya. Similarly, Meghalaya's land should not be transferred to Assam in the name of the solution to the inter-State boundary row," pointed out Sangma.

"I held a meeting with the people of a remote Boundary village in Chandubi on Saturday. Earlier I also attended a few meetings at Hahim in the presence of senior Assam Minister Atul Bora. The people also echo the similar tune," stressed Sangma.

"However, there are some disputes along the Langpih area. Steps are being initiated to resolve these issues of the masses here," added Sangma. "There is also a sizeable population of the Nepali community along the Assam-Meghalaya boundary. They too want to stay with Assam," he further stated.''

Sangma is spearheading a movement for a 'Satellite Autonomous Council' for more than 8.5 lakh Garo people of Assam. The masses' movement is being carried out under the banner of the 'United Garo Autonomous Council Movement Committee'. The State Government of Assam constituted the Garo Development Council (GDC) last year.

The population of the Garo community is 6,91,765 in the Brahmaputra Valley, while more than 2 lakh people of this community are living in the Barak Valley."The inter-State boundary dispute, however, continues in the areas of Pilingkata and Maikhuli as the Garo Students Union (GSU) has been demanding proper inspection of boundary areas lines before demarcation of the inter-State boundary.

"On October 5, Meghalaya Minister Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar and Assam minister Atul Bora led the cabinet-level committees and jointly inspected the disputed boundary areas between the two States."

The two neighbouring States have disputes over 12 areas. There are minor differences over six of these areas. The positive aspect is that both the States have decided to resolve these issues of the masses on a priority basis.

Also Read: Assam-Meghalaya border: Ministers of both states assess ground reality

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