Firings wont recur, Chidambaram tells Lapang

Union Home Minister P Chidambaram assured Meghalaya Chief Minister D D Lapang on Wednesday that the Centre would not allow incidents of firing between the Border Security Force and Bangladesh Rifles to recur.

Lapang, who called on Chidambaram in New Delhi, discussed the recent incidents of firing by BDR and BSF along the border in Meghalaya and raised concerns of the civilian population living in the area, an official statement said.

Asserting that the land at Muktapur, which BDR has been claiming, has been with India since decades, Lapang said the cordial atmosphere prevailing between New Delhi and Dhaka should not be disturbed by such incidents.

"The Union Home Minister informed that he has already taken up the matter with concerned authorities and assured that such incidents will not be allowed to recur," the statement said.

Lapang also apprised the Home Minister of the outcome of Tuesday's talks between the banned Achik National Volunteers Council and Centre's interlocutor P C Haldar.

While Chidambaram was of the view that there have been instances during the current ceasefire that "do not conform to the conditions laid", the Home Minister said the Centre would like to continue the talks and work for rehabilitation provided peace and law and order were strictly maintained. The Home Minister also asked Lapang to convey formal views of the state government in the matter of extension of ceasefire with the outfit.