Staff Reporter
SHILLONG Mar. 04: Leader of Opposition in the state Conrad K Sangma on Thursday urged Union Home Minister P Chidambaram to take up with the Bangladesh Government the matter of resolving the continuing unrest at Muktapur at the earliest.
In a letter sent to Chidambaram, Sangma drew the attention of the Centre to the tense situation in Muktapur along the Indo-Bangladesh border caused by the recent unprovoked firing by Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) which was retaliated by the BSF. The cross firing occurred thrice in Muktapur on February, 14 and 28.
“These incidents have branched out of the issue of adverse possession and the random firing by the BDR has led to more panic among the local people and increased the overall tension. Traditionally the main source of livelihood for the local people has been fishing, which they have been doing in the land/water bodies which fall under “adverse possession,” Sangma informed Chidambaram.
Many families residing in Muktapur area have fled to safer places in the nearby jungles and villages fearing impending firing from BDR.
With the Joint Monitoring Group constituted by India and Bangladesh to monitor and verify the credentials of the land claimed by the two countries likely to start surveying all enclaves and areas under adverse possession in April, Sangma said that the problem of “adverse possession” is complicated and requires intense field work, surveys, talks and negotiations at the highest level while appreciating Centre for taking necessary steps to find solution to the problem.
Urging the Union Home Minister to request Bangladesh to maintain status quo in terms of economic activities taking place in land under “adverse possession” to bring the situation under control, said, “Till the time Joint Monitoring Group conducts the surveys and continues the talks, status quo could be maintained to allow the local people to continue their day to day activities and restore peace in the affected area.”
Approximately, 2771.86 acres of Indian land are in adverse possession of Bangladesh against around 2922.25 acres of Bangladesh land under “adverse possession” of India.
A copy of the letter was also sent to Chief Minister, Union Ministers of State Vincent H Pala and Agatha K Sangma and Rajya Sabha MP Thomas A Sangma.