The international Border Pillar No 1280 near Muktapur, 15 km from Dawki, along the Indo-Bangladesh border has disappeared mysteriously. According to residents in the area, the Bangladesh authorities have already erected a similar pillar at a spot which is 100 metres within the Indian territory.
The residents had reported the matter to the Jaintia Hills DC, Ms L Kharkongor and the Commandant of 56 Battalion, BSF, M Singh, during a meeting recently. It may be mentioned here that of the 443-km international border that Meghalaya shares with Bangladesh, a stretch of 43 km is the bone of contention between the two nations.
The residents have urged the DC and the BSF to take prompt action against the 'incursion'. They also urged the DC to inform the Survey of India of the matter so that a fresh survey can be conducted at the earliest to demarcate the border afresh.
It may be recalled here that when the residents of Pyrdiwah had reported a similar incursion by the BDR in March 2001, the authorities here had adopted a lethargic approach and that led to the border skirmish between the BSF and the BDR. The Indian border guards were at the receiving end at that time.
Meanwhile, the DC has assured the residents that the matter will be referred to the concerned authorities. The local residents are now against any move by the BSF to fence the particular stretch of the international border without locating the exact spot of the missing pillar.
Meanwhile, of the 443-km border that the State shares with Bangladesh, a stretch of 220.049 km has already been fenced, and the work is in progress in another 103.836-km stretch. The fencing work from Jaliakhela to Muktapur is scheduled to commence in September this year.
A meeting between the DC, the headmen
and Dolois in the area is slated to be held soon.