Governor: Assam-Meghalaya boundary needs close watch

SHILLONG: Observing that internal security and law and order in Meghalaya has been stable, governor Ranjit Shekhar Mooshahary on Friday said "developments" on the Assam-Meghalaya boundary needed "close watch" in view of ethnic clashes last year.

"Differences over the inter-state boundary with Assam are being pursued in the right earnest by the state government and a complete dossier of documents supporting our claims has been handed over to the Assam government," the governor said in his address to the assembly on the opening day of the budget session. He added, "The assembly had passed a resolution, urging the Centre to set up a boundary commission to deal with this problem."

Expressing concern over the spurt in activities of the Garo National Liberation Council (GNLA) in the Garo Hills and certain areas of West Khasi Hills, Mooshahary emphasized sustained efforts to neutralize all militant groups in the state. "The state police, with the assistance of Central agencies, is taking all steps to effectively counter anti-national and criminal activities," said the former chief of the BSF and the elite NSG.

Asserting action against GNLA and those found supporting the group, the governor added that the group posed serious challenge to peace and development efforts.

Pointing out that the 443-km long international border that the state shares with neighbouring Bangladesh "poses its own problems in terms of influx, smuggling and easy transit routes to militant groups of the region", the governor called for expeditious completion of the border fencing.