Shillong: Meghalaya on Tuesday said it will
register a strong protest with the Assam government and also
seek a CBI inquiry into the May 14 firing incident at the
disputed border village of Langpih.
Talking to reporters, Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said
he would be leaving for Delhi tomorrow in connection with the
finalisation of the state's annual plan and would seek an
appointment with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to impress upon
him the need for an "independent and impartial inquiry" into
the incident.
The decision to press for a CBI inquiry was taken at a
Cabinet meeting yesterday.
Sangma who visited Langpih with other cabinet
ministers, said his government would register a protest with
the Assam government and would use "pressure, dialogue and
diplomacy to achieve a permanent solution to the long pending
border issue".
Four persons were killed and 26 injured in group
clashes and subsequent police firing at Langpih.
Sangma said he had already sent a police platoon to
the area and more forces would be sent till a permanent
solution was arrived at.
He said the villagers had alleged that the Assam
government was encouraging new settlement and expressed
apprehension that this would disturb the demographic
structure as both the states had agreed to maintain status
quo.
Meanwhile, the 12-hour bandh called by the Khasi
Students' Union and NGOs in protest against the May 14
incident passed off peacefully.
PTI
First Published: Tuesday, May 18, 2010, 22:02