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Border clash avoided; Assam sets up PHC foundation stone at Lengpih

Despite a simmering situation along the Assam-Meghalaya border, Assam health minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma has laid the foundation stone a Primary health centre at Langpih, a place in Kamrup district which is claimed by Meghalaya. The neighbouring state decided to maintain a wait and watch policy helping the area avoid a major clash.

Dr Sarma on Saturday along with his forest department counterpart Rockybul Hussain, AGP MLA Jyoti Prasad Das, youth Congress leader Rekibuddin Ahmed, Kamrup deputy Commissioner R C Jain, police superintendent Debojit Hazarika did it and not only that Dr Sarma announced a Rs 12 crore package for the development of the almost inaccessible area.

In his address, the minister said if the neighbouring state has any objection they should approach the judiciary and should not disturb others in implementing anything with its territory. A stunned Meghalaya Government has decide to maintain a wait-and-watch policey and this a major showdown was averted. Notably, the ministers’ convoy found it difficult to clear the road to Lengpih as it has some logs and uprooted trees placed to prevent the visit.

Notably, tension started running in the area as soon as the Assam Government announced a date for laying the foundation stone of a health centre in the backward area. A local organisation in Meghalaya was quick to greet health minister Dr Sarma with a 36 hour bandh and pledged to prevent him from doing it. The Donkuper Roy Government also joined the cry and sought the Centre’s intervention.

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Malcolm's picture

.... If Langpih is a part and parcel of Assam then Lumding and Kamakhya belong to Meghalaya.

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