Sahsniang (Meghalaya), Nov 19: Lok Sabha member P R Kyndiah has said he would take up with the Centre the issue of the disputed areas along the Assam-Meghalaya border from where over 4,000 people have fled and taken shelter in Meghalaya. Accusing the Tarun Gogoi government of Assam of 'failure' in protecting the lives of these people, he told yesterday that before approaching the Centre, he would consult the Meghalaya and Assam governments and also the North East MPs forum, which he headed.

Refuting Gogoi's reported statement that Block I and II areas in Assam's Karbi Anglong district, from where 4,000 people recently fled and took shelter in Meghalaya's Jaintia Hills district, formed part of that state's territory, the Congress MP from Shillong maintained that they were 'disputed'.

Addressing the 4,000 homeless Khasi-Pnar villagers here, about 116 Kms from Meghalaya capital, Kyndiah said human suffering and the exodus of Pnar people were caused by their killing, kidnapping and intimidation by two ultra groups - Karbi National Volunteers and United People's Democratic Solidarity. A group of Pnar refugees, staying in the camps, told a that Karbi militants armed with sophisticated weapons killed two of them on November three and injured another on November five last. They were again targetted on November 10, thus triggering the exodus. Two children died of TB after reaching the camp. Bureau Report