TURA: Even as the state government and district administrations have begun monitoring and checking of illegal immigrants entering the state after the release of the final NRC draft in Assam, organizations from Tikrikilla like the A’chik Youth Council (AYC) and the Indigenous Forum for Peace Welfare and Empowerment (IFPWE) have raised questions of the same being affective in the plain belt region of Garo Hills in view of its demographic position.
The organizations cautioned that illegal migrants would not only use major routes to get into the region as there are a number of roadways and other means like waterways for the purpose.
“As the whole region which consists of minority dominated villages are inter connected and lies in the extreme border areas with Goalpara District of Assam, it will be much easier and accessible for them to infiltrate into the region,” they said.
The organizations while appealing for support and cooperation from citizens of the region, have urged them to report any possible infiltration bid to the police or social organizations. The organizations also urged Nokmas, Gaonburas and other traditional heads not to allow entry of outsiders into areas of their jurisdiction as well as to alert villagers of the situation so that any suspicious movement or presence of unfamiliar faces can be reported to the authorities.
Pointing out that those who were left out of the Assam NRC list may try to apply for documents by posing local residents as their parents or guardians, the organizations urged heads of villages not to issue any document to such persons.
Meanwhile, in a separate release the GHSMC in Rongjeng has urged the concerned deputy commissioner and superintendent of police to take steps to check the possible entry of illegal migrants into the district.
“Keeping silent on the issue will create insecurity in Garo Hills and the authorities need to act. We as an organization will also do whatever is necessary to prevent illegal entry into the region,” it said.