By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Following increasing pressure from various NGOs on implementation of Inner Line Permit (ILP), Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma has decided to meet the pressure groups on August 29 to discuss the issue.
The meeting with the NGOs would be followed by an interaction with the leaders of various political parties on September 3.
Informing this here on Wednesday, Principal Secretary (Home) KS Kropha said the government would take stock of the consequences “if ILP is implemented in the State.”
The Chief Minister’s decision comes almost a week after 10 NGOs including the KSU and FKJGP called for a meeting at Motphran on August 16 (Friday) to press the government to implement ILP.
Kropha said the Government would also examine whether the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873 could be extended to the whole State.
It may be mentioned that the repealed Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation of 1897 had excluded Garo Hills from the provisions of the Act (read ILP).
Kropha said that ILP, as far as the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873 is concerned, is applicable to Indian citizens only and therefore an application for grant of ILP cannot be rejected. “If entry of illegal foreign nationals is to be restricted, the Foreigners Act, 1946 read with the Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order, 1958 will have to be amended and only Parliament can do this,” he said adding that the whole exercise would require a careful and cautious approach.
When asked about the status of the report submitted by the high-level committee on influx, Kropha said, “The Government is still examining it.”
Government looking for ‘most effective solution’
Stating that the Government is concerned about the issue, he pointed out that the manner in which influx of illegal migrants can be tackled has to be examined in detail in order to arrive at a most effective solution.
“Towards this end, the State Government had set up a High Level Committee on Influx to make an in depth study on the problem of influx/infiltration faced by the State,” he said adding that in addition a High Level Committee under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary was also constituted to examine the issues relating to tenancy.
“Primarily, the main focus should be on how to integrate the various labour laws and evolve an appropriate and effective mechanism to deal with the problems relating to influx,” he said.
Kropha also informed that the setting up of the Directorate of Anti-Infiltration and creation of a few police stations are some of the steps taken in this direction.
“The Anti-Infiltration Directorate, headed by the Additional Director of Police (SB), has been functioning with effect from April 1, 2013,” he said adding that 117 posts have been created and sanctioned in the first phase for the Directorate. For checking of infiltration and regulating movements along international border, Kropha informed that there were 11 police stations in the State located near the Indo-Bangladesh Border, apart from various infiltration check posts, watch posts etc.