MANALI: Adding fuel to the border dispute between Himachal Pradesh and Jammulink>and Kashmir, Kargillink> cops have established its post11km inside Himachal at Sarchu link>,222km from Manali, Times of India has reported.
Rejecting the demarcation done by the Survey of India (SI) in 1984 when theboundary between both states was fixed and deputy commissioners ofLahaul-Spiti and Leh had signed the pact, Kargil administration has refusedto accept that pact. Kargil administration says Sarchu comes under itsjurisdiction and not Leh’s.
Lahaul-Spiti police received a complaint from Darcha panchayat pradhanSonam Dolma that people of J&K region were threatening Lahaul residents toleave Sarchu and go back. Lahaul-Spiti superintendent of police (SP) RajeshDharmani link> said a policeteam had visited Sarchu on Saturday to check law and order. “We areestablishing a seasonal check post at Sarchu on May 28. Our cops will keepan eye on all activities there. We shall not tolerate anything against thelaw. We have come to know that Kargil is claiming nearly 11km land ofHimachal,” he said.
According to SP Dharmani, the dispute is around 10 years old and theHimachal government was trying to settle that. “Police can ensure law andorder. The border dispute is being settled by government of both thestates,” he said.
It is being alleged that Kargil police are not cooperating withLahaul-Spiti police and administration. *J&K people threaten dhaba owners*Seasonal camps and dhabas cater to tourists travelling between Manali andLadakh during summer.
The pradhan of Darcha, the last panchayat of Lahaul-Spiti towards Sarchu,has complained that people of J&K were threatening the camp and dhabaowners to leave that area.
The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes had also tried to resolve thematter and had called on DCs of Lahaul-Spiti and Kargil. However, thedeadlock persisted. The matter is now under consideration with the Uniongovernment. Last year the dispute between Kargil and Himachal had taken anew turn after the former claimed land of Himachal at Shinkula.
A person from Kargil district had claimed that the administration hadleased out land to him at Palmo a hamlet of Himachal in Darcha panchayat.Someone had also destroyed a boundary pillar at Sarchu last year. Now,Kargil has entered 11km beyond that pillar.