The committee would take 90 days to submit a report to the Cabinet after which the government would decide whether to approach the apex court, Meghalaya Progressive Alliance Government spokesperson and Cabinet minister Conrad Sangma said.
“The dispute between Meghalaya and Assam over Langpih has remained unresolved for a long time and so the Cabinet decided to form the committee to build up a case,” Sangma added.
Assam and Meghalaya agreed lately to maintain status quo at the disputed area. However, local people regularly complain of harassment by the personnel of Assam Police, which has a outpost in the area. Meghalaya has a temporary outpost at Lejadubi, about a km away from Langpih.
Last month, Meghalaya’s senior land record officer Comlin Thyrniang and his friend R Sun were arrested by Assam Police personnel without any warrant during a legal awareness programme in the area. They were later released after the Deputy Chief Minister, also in-charge of Home, HS Lyngdoh intervened.
Sangma added neighbouring States like Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland have sought legal recourse in solving boundary disputes with Assam. “The Cabinet also thought it appropriate to take the same step and approach the Supreme Court to help solve the Langpih dispute,” Sangma stated.
Meghalaya and Assam have held a series of talks at the Chief Secretary level to solve the boundary dispute between the two States last year.