Shillong, March 23: Meghalaya chief minister D.D. Lapang today assured the Assembly that the government would take up with the Centre the need to restore the sentry point withdrawn by the BSF from Naljuri village near Muktapur in Jaintia Hills a few days ago, after the firing by the BDR.
During question hour, Congress legislator Lahkmen Rymbui, hailing from the affected border area, apprised the government on the sudden withdrawal of the sentry post by the BSF from Naljuri which is an area of adverse possession.
He said this has exposed the people in the border areas to depredations of Bangladeshi residents and BDR, thereby creating fear psychosis in the people.
The chief minister promised that he would take up the issue of re-installing the BSF sentry point at the village at the earliest.
To a question by Ardent Basaiawmoit (United Democratic Party), the chief minister reminded the House that during his recent visit to Delhi, he had taken up the issue of frequent firing along the border by the BDR with Union home minister P. Chidambaram.
Chidambaram has spoken with the Bangladesh authorities on the matter, Lapang said.
Answering another question by Basaiawmoit, the chief minister said the state home department would explore the possibility of setting up a police outpost in Langpih, which is also a disputed area bordering West Khasi Hills and Assam.
At present, only Assam has a police outpost in Langpih.
Replying to a supplementary question by H.S. Lyngdoh (HSPDP), the chief minister also said various committees set up by the government would try to find a solution to the border dispute.
