Meghalaya Govt approves setting up of 7 BOPs along inter-state border 

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaNovember 29, 2022

The state government on Tuesday announced the setting up of border outposts (BOPs) in seven sensitive areas identified along the inter-state border with Assam. 

After chairing a cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said, “We have officially sanctioned and approved seven BOPs in sensitive areas and upgradaton of police outposts in Patharkhmah and Kyrshai in Ri Bhoi and West Khasi Hills district.”

The seven BOPs include Muriap in East Jaintia Hills, Mukroh and Tihwieh in West Jaintia Hills, Rani (Jirang) in Ri Bhoi and Umwali, Lejadubi and Langpih in West Khasi Hills. 

The required manpower and infrastructure will be immediately sanctioned and created.

The outpost will be officially sanctioned for Athiabari in West Khasi Hills, he said. 

The cabinet decision came following the November 22 – Assam police firing which killed six persons including five Khasi villagers and one Assam forest guard at Mukroh village in West Jaintia Hills District.

The chief minister informed that for each BOP the expenditure will be roughly Rs 2 crore annually. 

“It is about Rs 14 crore of expenditures annually for the 7 BOPs and roughly in the other locations about Rs 3-4 crore. We are looking at this decision leading to an impact of about Rs 17-18 crore…,” he added.

Sangma futher informed that the government will also come up with a second list of BOPs. 

“We will be coming up with a second list soon and that will be done after a more detail study is done in Ri Bhoi area. We have asked the DGP to make a visit to those areas and come back with a proposal especially in areas of difference in Block-II area which is mainly falls under Ri Bhoi district,” he said.

The chief minister also maintained that the BOPs will be located in non-areas of difference. These are areas which are going to be very much in locations which already are having police presence and that it is like an upgradation in one way. 

For instant, Assam already has a BOP but Meghalaya has only an anti-dacoity camp in Langpih and the same will now be upgraded into a BOP. By doing this, the police forces of both the states can speak to each  other and resolve any issues that are there.

“These measures are required to bring back a sense of normalcy and make people confident and safe in their own villages,” he said. 

On demand for creation of a separate IPS cadre, Sangma said that the state government will continue to pressurize government of India on the matter.