Meghalaya, Assam to maintain status quo in disputed areas

SHILLONG, May 29 ? Meghalaya and Assam governments have agreed to maintain status quo in disputed areas along the inter-State border, demarcation of which was long being demanded, to maintain peace and harmony on the two sides, top Meghalaya government official said on Wednesday, reports PTI. The decision was taken after Meghalaya Home Minister Lotsing Sangma spoke to Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi following misunderstanding over the setting up of a border outpost by Meghalaya police near Khanduli village in Jayantia Hills district on Tuesday, Chief Secretary J Tayeng said. Official sources said tension mounted in the area in Meghalaya when Karbi Anglong district police tried to dismantle a border outpost set up by Meghalaya police, officials sources said. The Karbi Anglong district authorities raised objection against setting up of the Meghalaya police camp at Khanduli claiming that it was a disputed area, the sources said. Meghalaya Director General of Police L Sailo said one officer and sub divisional officer of Hamren in Karbi Anglong district had visited the spot and forcibly tried to dismantle the Meghalaya police picket. Tayeng said he had contacted his Assam counterpart and asked him to see that such incidents were not repeated in future. The demarcation issue, long demanded by various organisations, was sought to be pressed by a 24 hours long road blockade in Meghalaya which ended in the early hours on Wednesday.