There was a heated argument between Assam officials and their Meghalaya counterparts on Wednesday afternoon when a team, led by additional superintendent of Kamrup, Sanjiv Saikia, went to Umali village, 1km from Lower Lampi police outpost, under Boko police station and around 35km from Boko, to measure a plot of land for construction of a border police outpost.

The other members of the team were officer-in-charge of Boko police station Jogendra Barman, Kamrup district development commissioner Tankeswar Das and public works department officials led by subdivisional officer Pranab Deka.

By the time they reached the spot, they saw officers of Meghalaya police with a mind protector vehicle waiting there. Additional deputy commissioner, Nongstoin, P.D. Sangma and sub-divisional police officer (Mawshynrut), West Khasi Hills, Ialamlad Kharkongor, started arguing with Assam’s officers saying the plot of land falls in Meghalaya and not in Assam.

After around four hours of argument, Assam officers showed them the Survey of India’s map and one of Boko revenue circle.

Saikia said the officials spoke to their Meghalaya counterparts and they decided for a meeting regarding this matter within this week.

Meghalaya officials, however, failed to show any valid document on the spot, he added.

Das clarified that Umali is a revenue village under the Boko revenue circle and after discussions work would start very soon.

Barman said after the discussion they left the spot but patrolling by Assam police started there.

Residents of Lampi said only Assam police and officials left the spot but Meghalaya police and people belonging to the Khasi community were still there till reports last came in.

In November, a group of people from Meghalaya tried to stop installation of a mobile tower in Umali village, but Barman and his team prevented them.