Violence broke out on the Assam-Meghalaya border on Tuesday. Six people from both the states, including a forest guard, died in the violence. The border dispute here started 50 years ago in 1972 when Meghalaya was separated from Assam. Know, how the separation of states turned into a controversy…
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The Assam-Meghalaya border dispute is once again in the news. Violence broke out on the border on Tuesday. In the violence, 6 people from both the states including the forest guard have died. Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Song has announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the next of kin of those killed. This is not the first case of violence and dispute regarding the border. This border dispute between the two states is 50 years old. To resolve the dispute, in March this year, Union Home Minister Amit Shah made an agreement between the chief ministers of the two states.
The dispute between Assam and Meghalaya started 50 years ago in 1972 when Meghalaya was separated from Assam. Know, how the separation of states turned into a controversy…
This is how the controversy started?
Meghalaya and Assam share a border of about 885 kilometers from each other. Most of the states that have been separated in India were formed on the basis of language, but in the Northeast, the state was formed on the basis of the conditions of the hills. When Meghalaya was separated from Assam, the dividing line passed through the Khasi and Garo communities. As a result, many people of both the communities remained in the plains. After this, a war of controversy started regarding the development of these people.
Still there are many people who live in Assam, but their names are registered in the voter list of Meghalaya. There was violence in Langpeh on many such issues. When the two states were separated in 1972, a dispute arose in 12 areas here. Those 12 areas include Upper Tarabari, Gajang Reserve Forest, Bokalapara, Nongwa, Matamoor, Hahim, Langpeh, Borduar, Khanapara-Pilangkata, Deshdemoria Block I and Block II, Khanduli and Retachera.
Last year 6 jawans were killed in violence
Meghalaya was separated from Assam under the Assam Reorganization Act 1971. This law was challenged and the foundation of the dispute was laid. The biggest reason for the dispute that lasted for 50 years was considered to be the Langpeh district adjoining Kamrup district of Assam. Langpeh was once a part of Kamrup district. Now it may have become a part of Meghalaya, but Assam still considers it as its own part.
The dispute between the two states has also affected the development here. Controversy has been taking place due to names of people of one state being in the voter list of other states, no change in the map till now and old issues arising from time to time.According to the BBC report, incidents of violence have reduced in many areas including Langpih. Incidents of violence and clashes have happened several times in the 12 disputed areas here.
In 2010, four people died during police firing in Langpeh. On July 26 last year, six Assam Police personnel were killed in the worst ever violence on the Assam-Mizoram border. About 100 civilians and security personnel of these two states were injured.
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