By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Demanding the implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system in Garo Hills, Garo Students’ Union (GSU) president Tengsak G Momin on Tuesday said there is no documentary proof which would substantiate that the State Government has adopted the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation Act, 1873 (implementation of ILP system) as repealed in 1897 which had secluded Garo Hills from the provisions of the Act.
“We have asked the State Government to provide us with documentary proof to show that they have they have adopted the Act as repealed in 1897. But so far the Government has failed to provide such documents,” Momin said while addressing newsmen after the final sitting of the High Level Committee (HLC) on Influx here on Tuesday.
“If the State Government has not adopted the Act as amended in 1897, then the Government is free to implement the Act in its original form.” “We support the move to implement the ILP throughout the State. We also believe that the ILP is the only mechanism to protect the local indigenous population from the onslaught of illegal immigrants,” the GSU president added. Earlier, Deputy Chief Minister Bindo Mathew Lanong had said that Garo Hills region had been kept out of the purview of the ILP after the Act was amended in 1897. Lanong, however said that the Committee would recommend implementation of the ILP in Garo Hills.