By Our Reporter
Shillong: The Federation of Ri-War Mihngi Local Dorbars (FORMLD) has urged the creation of more observation posts along the international border to protect the life and property of the villagers residing along the border.
“The creation of these observation posts would help to check the infiltration from the Bangladeshi side into the Indian border. It would also protect us from various illegal and criminal activities being committed by the infiltrators from across the border,” FORMLD general secretary Peter Rynjah said in a memorandum submitted to BSF DIG A Asthana on Saturday.
The issues were discussed at a meeting organized by FORLMD, attended by SDPO Herbert G Lyngdoh and former Nongshken MLA KK Dkhar at Pynursla in East Khasi Hills.
Rynjah also requested the BSF authorities to make necessary arrangement for a periodical meeting with Sordars Raid, Elakas, local Rangbah Shnongs (Headman) and village elders to assess the situation along the international border.
“We feel that such meetings would provide a platform for meaningful dialogue on the problems faced by the people,” Rynjah said while also appealing to the BSF authorities to take into confidence the local Village Dorbars so as to instill confidence in the minds of the people when BSF conducts patrolling in the border areas especially in the village.
According to Rynjah, such exercise will immensely help to improve the confidence of the people on the BSF.
“We understand that the international border trade is decided at the Central government level. But the ground reality remains that since times immemorial we have had border trade with people from the plain areas,” he said, adding, “Our livelihood depended on ‘barter trade’ of perishable items with Bangladesh. Prior to Bangladesh’s Liberation in 1971, both countries allowed people on both sides to conduct barter trade with one another.
Rynjah also mentioned that the State Government should seriously consider the proposal for creating the Home Guards Border Wing (HGBW) which would provide assistance in patrolling the international border.
“The HGBW would also be helpful in removing the communication gap between the local people and the BSF. The villagers are facing great difficulties to communicate with the BSF personnel due to the language barrier,” Rynjah added.
He also said that the HGBW would be an advantage in the border areas since they would be able to properly grasp the issues of the local people.