By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The State been has been witnessing periodic outbursts against illegal migrants. The fear of being outnumbered by those ‘outsiders’ has led to these outbursts.
And since there is no institutionalized system to detect and deport these illegal migrants, several NGOs in the recent past took up the job, which the government is supposed to do.
However, the manner in which the NGOs are carrying out these so called ‘operations’ in the name of detecting illegal migrants has raised several questions.
Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma had recently made it clear that no social organisation has been given legal sanctity to prosecute infiltrators.
The treatment meted out on some people at Mawryngkneng and Byrnihat by some members of an NGO recently has been viewed seriously by some residents of the state. They termed it as ‘harassment’ of genuine citizens.
According to them, the NGO members should first verify the antecedents of the people instead of targeting them by their appearance.
Urging the NGOs to show restraint when they target anybody, Percia Pakyntein, whose daughter is working in New Delhi, said the NGOs at the most can assist the authorities in detecting illegal infiltrators.
“If the NGOs do not exercise restraint, then they might end up targeting a genuine citizens”, Pakyntein said.
Ballabh Chetry, another city resident, said the NGOs have no right to take law into their hands and if there is any questionable person, then the police should take action against them.
Echoing a similar view, a city-based businessman Himakar Dostidar felt that the government should take necessary steps to see that the genuine citizens are not harassed.
Another such resident of the city who frequents on Shillong-Guwahati road on business purpose said that influx cannot be stopped on the highway “since migrants can use other open routes.”