Assam response irks Meghalaya
Source: The Sangai Express / Press Trust of India

Shillong, January 09 2011: With incidents of arson continuing in the ethnic-violence hit Assam-Meghalaya border, Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma today expressed displeasure in the manner in which the Assam government was "containing the problem" .

"Houses are continuously burnt.

Many of them were burnt last night.

If this is allowed to continue and the administration of Assam does not make serious efforts to contain the problem, the issue could go out of hand," Sangma said from Delhi.

He said he had spoken to Union Home Minister Chidambaram again, apprising him of the situation and appealing to him to depute senior officials of the MHA to visit the troubled spots and comprehend the seriousness of the issue.

The Home Minister has agreed and an officer of the rank of Joint Secretary from the ministry has been deputed to visit the troubled areas shortly, he said.

"From our side we have done everything that is required to contain the problem and try to restore the confidence of the people, that is why no untoward incident has been reported on the Meghalaya side and people of both communities are cooperating," Sangma said.

The Chief Minister will also be meeting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, updating him on the situation while pressing for a commission of enquiry to "ascertain the causes of the ethnic strife as well as identify loopholes or lapses if any by the respective civil administration in solving the matter so that proper action could be initiated." Incidentally, there has been many decades old boundary disputes between the two neighbouring States.

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