By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: While some groups have impressed upon the need to bring back normalcy to Garo Hills, some however, blamed the government over the alleged molestation of a mentally challenge girl by a group of labourers in Tura, drawing attention to its failure to introduce the Inner Line Permit (ILP) and Work Permit to curb the entry of immigrants into the region.
While condemning the rape attempt on the girl by these four labourers, the All India Garo Union (AIGU) on Saturday demanded the State government to immediately introduce the much-awaited ILP to curb anti-social activities in Garo hill region.
Ruing over the incident which spurt into a mob violence in Tura costing the lives of two persons, the organization demanded the police department to ensure that such things do not happen in the future while demanding the creation of infiltration gates at entry points like Bajendoba, Medipathar, Mahendraganj and others.
“The government needs to introduce the ILP and work permit at the earliest to keep a check on such anti-social elements from entering the region,” AIGU president Elbarth Marak said while stressing on the need to impose strict measures to prevent the influx of the outsiders.
Meanwhile, the AIGU further demanded the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) to strictly implement and check the trading license issued to non-tribals. “No non-tribals should be allowed to work or trade in the district without valid trading licences from the District Council,” the president suggested.
On the other hand, in an attempt to bring back normalcy to the region, a peace meet was called at the deputy commissioner’s office in Tura on Saturday afternoon which was attended by several Garo NGOs and church elders.
Several organizations including the GSU, Church elders, senior citizens, Mothers’ Union, Bakdil who attended the peace meet including South Tura MLA John Leslee K Sangma stressed on the need to bring back normalcy to the region for the interest of all groups of society.
Patrolling intensified
In view of the prevailing law and order situation in Tura town, the Border Security Force (BSF) has intensified patrolling along the International Border especially the communally sensitive pockets like Mankachar along the Inter-State border with Assam, as stated by BSF on Saturday.
The law and order situation worsened on Friday night following an incident of molestation of a girl by some youth at Wadangere.
According to BSF, a number of pro-active steps have been taken by the BSF to contain the law and order situation in the town of Tura.
The BSF is providing assistance like shelter, food, security, etc. to approximately 250 members of the minority community who have taken refuge in the BSF campuses at Prahari Nagar and Dhanakgiri at Tura, and at the BSF outposts of Gasuapara and Kilapara. “BSF is prepared to tackle any contingency,” BSF added.