Meghalaya Group Rejects 2022 Border Deal, Claims Assam Encroachment

Residents of Maikhuli in Meghalaya’s Ri-Bhoi district convened at a local football ground on Monday to oppose the reported entry of Assam state authorities into their village. The gathering followed incidents on September 19, during which local residents alleged that Assam Police and government officials dismantled part of the ground’s boundary wall.

According to reports from shillongtoday.com, the community expressed deep concern that repeated actions by Assam officials have created an atmosphere of uncertainty. Villagers fear that their ancestral territory is gradually shifting under Assam’s control, prompting calls for immediate intervention by the Meghalaya state government to secure the area.

Criticism of 2022 Border Settlement

Roy Kupar Synrem, Chairman of the Confederation of Meghalaya Social Organisations (COMSO), voiced strong opposition to the 2022 Memorandum of Understanding signed by both states. This agreement resolved six of twelve disputed sectors, including the Khanapara-Pilangkata sector where Maikhuli is located. Synrem argued that the settlement did not adequately reflect historical records or the longstanding possession of land by local indigenous communities.

He claimed that approximately 2.5 square kilometres of disputed land were involved in the negotiation, with Meghalaya receiving only about 0.5 square kilometres under the final terms. Synrem suggested that the agreement should be reviewed if it fails to protect the interests of the residents, citing the existence of local institutions in the area since the early 1950s as evidence supporting Meghalaya’s claim.

Concerns Over Security and Delay

The COMSO chairman criticized successive Meghalaya governments for failing to permanently resolve the inter-state boundary dispute despite the state having attained full statehood more than five decades ago. He referenced previous violent clashes at Langpih and Mukroh, questioning why authorities appear to act only after such incidents occur rather than preventing them through clear demarcation.

Synrem also alleged that the border issue is frequently used as a political tool during elections, with leaders making promises that are not fulfilled. He highlighted that four years after the 2022 agreement, proper demarcation had not been completed, leading to confusion over jurisdiction. This lack of clearly marked boundaries, he argued, has contributed to recent disputes and the alleged intrusion by Assam officials.

Calls for Government Intervention

The public meeting concluded with a demand for the Meghalaya Government to intervene immediately and provide adequate security for Maikhuli residents. The community called for a thorough review of the 2022 settlement based on historical evidence and the views of the affected population. Synrem urged the state to avoid a similar approach in negotiations over the remaining six disputed areas, emphasizing the need for a permanent and just solution.