‘Illegal settlers’ in Garo Hills
SHILLONG: The Meghalaya Indigenous Youth Federation (MIYF) has urged Home Minister Roshan Warjri to enquire into the issue of “illegal settlers in Garo Hills”.
In a memorandum submitted to the Home Minister, MIYF general secretary, Danny M. Dunai alleged that flood victims from Bangladesh and Assam who take refuge in Garo Hills during the rainy season manage to settle there permanently refusing to leave even when the water recedes in the plain belt.
Dunai claimed that the illegal settlers have even managed to register their names in the electoral roll of the state and have obtained documents such as birth and residential certificates with the help of those with vested interests in the area.
The MIYF urged the Minster to conduct a joint inspection with the federation in the affected areas of Garo Hills to ascertain the ground reality.
It may be mentioned that several pressure groups from Garo Hills have in the past raised concerns over the alleged unabated influx of illegal migrants which according to them was changing the demography of the area.
There have also been demands for a strict anti-influx law in the State to restrict the entry of “outsiders in Meghalaya”.