Assam-Meghalaya Border Row: A Final Solution on the Cards?
- In Politics
- 12:16 PM, Mar 05, 2022
- Ankita Dutta
During the Assam-Mizoram border row that erupted in July, 2021 snowballing into the death of 6 Assam police personnel, tensions were already brewing at the Assam-Meghalaya border in the Umlafar area of Assam’s West Karbi Anglong district. It was reported that an Assam police officer had allegedly misbehaved with two men from Meghalaya. Immediately, around 300 people gathered to protest against this incident in Ri-Bhoi district of Meghalaya. Their paths were blocked, leading to a heated altercation.
However, unlike the Assam-Mizoram border which is over 500 km from the state capital at Dispur, Guwahati, the Assam-Meghalaya border is much closer to the seat of power since Guwahati is situated right next to the Meghalaya border. The strategic importance of this border stems from the fact that it serves as a lifeline for thousands of residents and traders across both sides of the border. Despite the BJP having coming back to power with an impressive victory, the months of July and August, 2021 gave a real tough time to Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma.
Discussions around in social media continuously tried to vilify the image of Dr. Sarma. This started soon after a decision was taken by the Government of Assam at the behest of Dr. Sarma to bring in the Assam Cattle Preservation Bill, 2021 with the objective of the preservation of cattle by regulating their slaughter, consumption, illegal transportation and matters connected and incidental therewith. Moreover, just like any other state, this was also the time when Assam was gradually beginning to witness the devastation caused by the deadly second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
But the smart enough politician and strategist that he is, Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma understands the many layers of politics very well, having been into it since a long time now. He knows how to solve issues with the right political intent. Wasting no time, it was initially on August 6, 2021 within just a few months after the formation of the new BJP Government in Assam Dr. Sarma, along with his Meghalaya counterpart, Conrad Sangma, took the initiative and decided to first begin by settling the “less complicated” areas of the dispute along the 884.9 km border. Accordingly, both the State Governments decided to address the issue in different phases.
In the first phase, six disputed areas were identified and joint visits were carried out to these places by teams comprising of Ministers from both the states. Three regional committees were constituted for the purpose, consisting of five members each, headed by a cabinet minister to first get the views of the people living in the disputed areas and prepare a recommendation within 30 days for a final decision at the level of the Chief Ministers. The Committees visited the disputed stretches and have already submitted the reports to their respective Governments, laying down a clear-cut solution.
According to the proposed recommendations in the consensus formula, each of the two states will get around 18 sq. km in the six disputed stretches. Assam will retain for itself 18.51 sq. km and give the remaining 18.28 sq. km to Meghalaya. It was on the 29th of January, 2022 that Conrad Sangma and Himanta Biswa Sarma had finalised the border agreement at their level on the first six areas of difference. Earlier, on January 20, the two Chief Ministers met Union Home Minister Amit Shah so as to apprise him about the decisions taken by both the governments for permanent settlement of the disputes.
They also submitted him the proposed recommendations based on a joint survey carried out by both the State Governments on the six disputed areas that were taken up for consideration in the first phase. The MHA had then sent the joint proposal to the Survey of India to examine it and conduct a joint inspection and survey at the six disputed stretches where the two neighbouring Governments have reached a consensus. The Survey of India, which is the national mapping agency of the country under the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, will send its report back to both the states seeking their opinions after its survey.
If agreed, the Assemblies of both the states will have to pass resolutions on the disputed boundaries. The Centre will then table a bill in the Parliament for bringing an amendment to the Constitution of India. Both Assam and Meghalaya plan to take up the other disputed areas of the border in a phased manner. So, what exactly happened and how did the two states settle their long-pending grievances? Who gets what? Who is going to be at a loss and who is going to gain and how? These are now the most pertinent questions that have arisen. It would perhaps not be an exaggeration to say that Assam’s border with almost all the other hill states of the North-East has always remained a matter of controversy.
Whereas the origins of some of these problems may be traced back to the time of Independence, some go even further. As per available information, there are boundary disputes arising out of the demarcation of boundaries and claims and counter-claims over territories between Assam-Meghalaya, Assam-Nagaland, Assam-Arunachal Pradesh, and Assam-Mizoram. The approach of the Central Government has consistently been that inter-state disputes can be resolved only with the cooperation of the concerned State Governments, with the Central Government acting as a facilitator for ensuring an amicable settlement of the dispute in a spirit of mutual understanding.
Historically speaking, the problem between Assam and Meghalaya began soon after the creation of Meghalaya when Meghalaya challenged the Assam Reorganisation Act of 1971. At present, there are 12 points of dispute (viz. Upper Tarabari, Gijang Reserve Forest, Hahim, Langpih, Borduar, Baklapara, Nongwah, Matamur, Khanapara-Pilangkata, Deshdemoreah-Block I and Block II, Khanduli, and Retacherra) along the 885-km Assam-Meghalaya border. As of today, the boundary dispute between Meghalaya and Assam is inching towards a resolution in the six “less complicated” locations, viz. Tarabari, Hahim, Pilangkata, Khanapara, Retacherra, and Gijang.
Government of India has already directed the Survey of India to conduct a joint survey of these areas. There are 36 disputed villages in these six locations along the border. Both the Assam and Meghalaya Governments have agreed in principle for the exchange and administrative control of these villages under a give-and-take policy. As mentioned earlier, these six areas of dispute out of a total of 12 between the Assam and Meghalaya Governments are considered to be less contentious. However, the other six areas, particularly under Block I and Block II, are a lot more complex in terms of an easy resolution.
Meghalaya bases its case on the survey maps of 1872 and 1929 and certain notifications of 1878 and 1951, while Assam wants to go by the recommendations of the Justice Churachand Committee which, in turn, have been rejected by Meghalaya. The district of Langpih in West Garo hills bordering the Kamrup district of Assam is a major point of contention between the two states. Langpih was a part of the erstwhile Kamrup district during the British colonial period. But, after independence, it became a part of the Garo Hills district in Meghalaya. On May 14, 2010, a firing incident took place at Langpih that had eventually led to the death of four Khasi villagers.
Assam considers Langpih to be a part of the Mikir hills or present-day Karbi Anglong district, whereas Meghalaya has raised its contention over Deshdemoreah (Blocks I and II) of the Mikir hills. Meghalaya contends that both these Blocks formed part of the erstwhile United Khasi and Jaintia Hills district when it was notified in 1835. During the 15-year long Chief Ministerial tenure of former Assam CM Tarun Gogoi, the border dispute emerged as one of the nagging problems between Assam and Meghalaya. In fact, an Assam Government guest house that was used by Tarun Gogoi as the official residence was also caught in the row.
This guest house is located on a small hillock (the Koinadhora Pahar) along the Khanapara-Pilangkata block, and it was often claimed by Meghalaya as its territory. Joint surveys of the disputed border segments have been undertaken several times in the past. The issue, has never been about the absence of technology and expertise to draw the boundaries of the states but the absence of political will. In the earlier years, several rounds of meetings between the State Governments concluded by deciding to maintain the status-quo. Assam has been facing border disputes with its neighbouring States for a long time, which sometimes led to violent clashes.
The Union Home Ministry is focused on resolving the boundary issues between states, and has provided adequate support to each state in this regard. It has given a good opportunity and platform to all the State Governments concerned to strive for a peaceful and long-term solution to the issues. This is indeed a very positive sign because such careful attention being paid by the Union Home Minister himself, especially with respect to the North-East, was never seen during the previous Congress regimes. The Centre and both the Assam and the Meghalaya state governments are working closely to maintain law and order at the border.
Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju had also said that all the states of the North-East should try to settle their unresolved boundary disputes amicably without resorting to any sort of violence. As the years pass by, border problems become difficult to solve partly because of inefficiency on the part of local officials and partly due to a section of the public’s deliberate intention to create tension. It is the responsibility of the State Governments and the district administration to ensure peaceful negotiations and formal talks if there arise any disputes regarding unresolved boundary issues.
But, at the same time, it is also very important to understand here that the State Governments cannot finalise the inter-state boundaries on their own. It needs to be done by the Parliament and that is why the role of the Union Home Minister becomes important. Border issues are sensitive and therefore need to be handled with utmost care by the Governments at both the Centre and the states. Several Cabinet Ministers from Meghalaya have repeatedly told the media that the issue is close to being resolved, and Assam ministers too, have so far reiterated the same.
However, the biggest bottleneck on the side of Assam might come from the Assamese community, because as many as 11 different Vaishnavite places of worship (Sattras and Namghars) situated along the Assam-Meghalaya inter-state boundary are likely to be handed over to Meghalaya. This has been the allegation raised by a few Hindu organisations in the state, specifically the Asom Sattra Mahasabha (the parent body of all the Sattras in Assam), which has said that in any case, it would not allow the state Government of Assam to hand over these places of worship to predominantly Christian Meghalaya.
Considering the social-cum-religious importance of Sattras and Namghars in the Assamese Hindu society, it is very likely that if this should happen, it would potentially become another obstacle in the near future for both the state Governments. Also, people in remote villages like Longsai, Mateshor and Umsur under West Gauhati constituency in Kamrup district along the inter-state border, are facing a difficult time. The villages of Longsai and Mateikhor are inhabited by people from the Hindu Rabha community who have always been devotees of the Mahapurusiya Naam Dharma parampara of Srimanta Sankardev.
These people want to stay with Assam because their culture, identity and language are all a part of the greater Assamese Hindu society. But Umsur village consists of a significant chunk of the population of Rabhas who have converted into Christianity. The Asom Sattra Mahasabha (ASMS) is of the opinion that there is maximum possibility that this region might go to Meghalaya. In the opinion of Ramendra Narayan Kalita, 5-time MLA from West Gauhati constituency and also one of the members of the regional committee constituted by the Assam Government to resolve the border issue, archaic colonial-era forest rules have hindered the development of the villages along the Assam-Meghalaya boundary, prompting its residents to side with the neighbouring state.
It is because the Government of Assam cannot provide land pattas in forested areas, neither can it develop villages in these areas due to the existent rules. However, the forest rules in Meghalaya are different, since land patta, power connections, and water supply can be provided to the villagers in the forest areas by the government, besides the construction of roads. Kalita, however, had refuted the allegations of the ASMS that a few Sattras and Namghars will become a part of Meghalaya’s territory as a result of the mutual discussion of the boundary dispute between the two states.
Kalita has made it clear that although a portion of Baklapara (primarily a Garo-inhabited border area under West Gauhati constituency) will be handed over to the neighbouring state, there is no Sattra or Namghar in that area, but only a Church. Hence, he said that any question of Sattras or Namghars becoming a part of Meghalaya’s territory does not arise. He has mentioned that although there is a Sattra each at Mateikhar, Longsai, and Umsur, but there is no proposal as such for these areas to be merged with Meghalaya. Kalita has appealed to the ASMS several times not to issue any statement that may hurt the religious sentiments of the Assamese community and as well as of those living on the Assam-Meghalaya border since time immemorial.
Regular spot verification exercises are very important in this regard on the part of organisations like the ASMS so that a clear stance can be maintained on the issue. But, as of today, while the Assam-Mizoram border dispute remains in limbo, the Assam-Meghalaya border row seems closer than ever to being resolved in an amicable manner. It is now upon the Central Government to do the needful for permanent settlement of the inter-State border. The Governments at both the Centre and the states must tread with caution, because any unwanted provocation from either side has all the potential to disturb the hard-earned efforts at peace.
In fact, just a few days back, local residents of Tapat village in West Karbi Anglong district of Assam bordering Meghalaya, had alleged that a mob of around one thousand inhabitants of Meghalaya marched around 3 kilometres into Assam’s territory in an attempt to encroach a vast tract of land near the village. The villagers feared that the Meghalaya residents would stake claim over the encroached land which might lead to another fresh round of confrontations between the two states. In order to take stock of the situation, the Chairman of the Minority Welfare Board, along with the police-in-charge of Langhemphi area and the village headman of Tapat visited the place, where the intruders seemed to assert their claim over the land by placing huge rocks and boulders.
This latest development has emerged all of a sudden, and it is now the equal responsibility of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) along with both the Central and the State Governments to take the matter seriously and secure the border area from any such hostilities in the near future. Before taking the final call with Conrad K. Sangma, Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma had spoken to various organisations and stakeholders of the state. He met representatives of political parties and students’ bodies in separate sittings and informed them about the decisions taken by the governments of both Assam and Meghalaya. Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma also had extensive discussions with all the stakeholders including political parties, and has expressed the hope that everyone would support the move for a permanent settlement of the disputes in the larger interest of both the states and their people.
With Assam and Meghalaya seemingly moving in the right direction and coming closer towards a permanent settlement of the disputes, it is a positive sign that Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has also advocated the need for talks and negotiations to settle the long-pending border disputes with Assam. There is also every possibility that the Government of Arunachal Pradesh would soon come forward to settle the disputes through negotiations. In fact, it was just a few days back while attending a programme to mark the 36th Statehood Day of Arunachal Pradesh at a place called Yupia, around 21 km from Itanagar, that Assam CM Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma had announced that Assam and Arunachal Pradesh will engage in “serious dialogue” to amicably resolve the long-pending border disputes and find a permanent solution.
Dr. Sarma, who is also the convenor of the BJP-led North-East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), further mentioned that the people of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh have always shared a close affinity, and that state boundaries might have divided them physically but emotionally, they always shared a deep connection. He also assured the people of Arunachal Pradesh that the Government of Assam is ever-ready to do whatever is required to maintain the age-old relationship between the two neighbouring states. The CMs of both the states have already held few meetings and decided to conduct ground-level surveys along the inter-state border and take the boundary settlement process forward.
Himanta Biswa Sarma has reiterated several times in the past that solving boundary issues of Assam with the neighbouring hill states of the North-East is one of the topmost priorities of his government. However, the major problem remains with that of Mizoram. As mentioned in the very beginning of this article, the police forces of Assam and Mizoram were involved in a deadly gun battle in July 2021, which led to major casualties of both police personnel and as well as common civilians. It is not very easy for Assam to come to a settlement with Mizoram with respect to the border issue, due to the fact that Mizoram requires a significant chunk of cultivable land in the plains. However, efforts to settle the dispute must continue in the right earnest.
Most importantly, state governments must realize the fact that all the states of the Northeast must stay united for the overall development of the region, because any disturbance in this part of the country will help the countries inimical to India to foment trouble. Peaceful co-existence among all the states and handling all issues in the best possible manner peacefully is very important. Without peace, development is very difficult. The seriousness of the border problem in the North-East can aptly be understood with reference to a recent order of the Jorhat district magistrate under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
A night curfew was clamped within the 5-km belt on the Assam side of the Assam-Nagaland border in Jorhat district of Upper Assam, thereby prohibiting the movement of all kinds of vehicles/persons, etc. It may be pertinent to mention here that Jorhat district shares an over 100-km long border with Nagaland, cutting across a swathe of rough terrain and dense forests. The order had clearly stated that the measure was taken in view of information received by the district authorities from the Intelligence Branch and district police that some members of different organisations could covertly sneak into the district through the inter-state border to foment trouble.
The order also clearly mentioned that as per an Intelligence report, ULFA (I) had recently enrolled new cadres into their group and they could have used the Assam-Nagaland border areas for transporting equipment and for other purposes. The imposition of night curfew along the inter-state border areas of Assam and Nagaland has been a practice since a long time now. It has had its own share of contribution in the prevention of inter-state crime and anti-national activities in Jorhat district and a few other districts of Upper Assam, by serving as an effective deterrent against using the Assam-Nagaland border areas as a transit route for the smuggling of drugs and arms in particular.
The Central Government had entrusted the Manohar Parrikar Institute of Defence Studies and Analysis with the responsibility of carrying out a detailed study of the inter-state boundary disputes between the different states of North-East India. The members of the Institute held regular talks with the concerned state governments and also collected several documents available with the states on the issue. After going through the relevant records, the Institute prepared a draft report and sent the same to the concerned State Governments for their comments. The comments of the Governments of the concerned states are a must before preparing the final report.
Retrospectively speaking, Government of India should have clearly demarcated the boundaries while carving out new states from Assam. It is better late than never. Trying to find a long-lasting solution to age-old disputes, especially border issues, is a tough job. With the respective State Governments to the dispute having the right political will, a solution will nevertheless come out. It is a welcome development that the states in the North-East have now realised the need for settling disputes through talks in a mutually conducive atmosphere. It will definitely take time to permanently settle the disputes since all the State Governments have their own political compulsions, which cannot be sidelined. The settlement might not be 100% perfect but at this juncture, one can at least hope that both the states would be able to arrive at the best possible solution.
References:
1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2X8OLtiiCs
A special note of thanks to Manish Ji for helping me with data collection, and as well as for enlightening me on several important aspects of the Assam-Nagaland border in Jorhat district.
Image source: The Indian Express
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