SHILLONG: Extending their support to the stand of Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) against expansion of railway network to the state, the Ri-Bhoi Students’ Union (RBSU) has urged the state government to set up entry and exit points to check illegal immigration.
President of RBSU, E J Nongpluh asserted that it would be difficult to implement railway project sans any stringent law to tackle illegal immigration to the state.
When asked about the status of police action against the KSU members in the district because of their protest against the railway project, he said that the raids on residences of KSU members have come down.
On the other hand, the organization demanded for appointment of tribal bureaucrats in Ri-Bhoi district so that language barrier/ communication gap with the common people will not be a hindrance for people welfare and development process.
“People in the villages who are illiterate can meet the DC or SP to address their grievances easily if there is a Khasi bureaucrat,” Nongpluh said.
“As of now, the district administration officials are non-tribal and this has created difficulty for the residents of the district to communicate with them about their grievances,” he added.
Nongpluh said that the residents have to take along a translator while visiting the DC and the SP of the district. “It often turns out to be a complicated process when the translator is being unable to express the grievances of the person concern properly,” he said.
It may be mentioned that there was a demand to remove the Deputy Commissioner, CP Gotmare and Superintendent of Police, Ramesh Singh for which a mass signature campaign was also held in the district.