SHILLONG, FEB 24: Assam police on Wednesday directed a contractor to stop the construction of the Kureliya Bridge over the Myntang River in West Jaintia hills claiming it falls under disputed area.
The alleged disruption and interference by the Assam police was strongly opposed by the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) and the union also lambasted the Meghalaya government’s soft-attitude towards the incident.
Sources informed that the Assam police came to the construction site and issued a spot-notice to the contractor Friday Hinge directing him to immediately stop the construction of the bridge, a project sanctioned by the Meghalaya government.
In a notice, which was written on a blank-piece of paper and issued to the contractor at the Khatkhasla village, Assam Sub-Inspector Ajit Terang said, “It is seen that you have started re-construction of major bridge across river Myntang along with its approaches on Sahsniang-Kureliya road which is disputed area.”
“You are therefore asked to immediately stop the construction works. You are further asked not to proceed with the work from today (February 24), without prior approval of the Deputy Commissioner of West Karbi-Anglong, Hamren,” the SI said in the notice.
Opposing the action by the Assam police, the KSU-Jaintia hills district unit said it is surprising that the district administration is keeping quit and instead accept the direction given by a mere SI of Jrikyndeng police station (Assam) through a notice which barely has any letter head or seal of the department.
According to union, during a meeting at the construction site between the Assam police, the contractor Friday Hinge, PWD officials from Sahshniang R Lyngdoh and F Syngkon, headman of Khatkasla and KSU-Sahsniang unit president Joshwa Lathong, the Assam police had directed the contractor to stop the construction work till the matter is resolved at the level of the DCs of the two districts – Hamren and West Jaintia Hills District.
The Assam police had also allegedly asked the contractor to come along with them to Hamren, to which he refused, they said.
According to the KSU, as per the status quo maintained at the level of the chief secretaries of Assam and Meghalaya, the Assam police and magistrate cannot enter into the state’s territory without getting permission of the DC of West Jaintia Hills District.
“The action by the Assam police and the silent attitude of the government of Meghalaya has only become a big stumbling block to the development of the area,” the union said in a statement.
The union also informed that when contacted, the DC Arun Kembhavi told them that he had taken up the matter with his counterpart, the DC of Hamren district, Assam.
However, the KSU has decided to meet the DC tomorrow, to demand for his immediate intervention to ensure that the Assam police do not encroach into the Meghalaya territory and disrupt the developmental works.
“We also demand the district administration to depute adequate police force in and around the construction site,” the union said while threatening to take stern action if the issue is not addressed at the earliest.-By Our Reporter
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