TURA/ NONGPOH: Organisations in Garo Hills are unhappy with the measures being taken by the government to check the possible influx of outsiders following the release of the final NRC draft in Assam.
“We are still apprehensive that the exercise of detection can be a panic response to the intensity of the prevailing situation thus presented by the government and so we will remain alert. Should we perceive that there is a lax in the exercise to detect we will be forced to direct our units all over Garo Hills to actively engage themselves in the detection process. All the NGOs and civil societies have been directed to detect infiltrators and illegal immigrants and we request people to be alert,” said the organisations like GSU, AYWO, ADE and FKJGP, on Friday.
Earlier, the organisations along with members of the Tura Garo Senior Citizens Forum met West Garo Hills DC and SP where they had demanded that members of the organisations were present during the checking of infiltrators. However, both the DC and the SP had during the meeting insisted that the government was taking the issue seriously and necessary measures are being taken.
The organisations asked the state to start NRC exercise to detect, deport and detain illegal immigrants and take into account 1971 as the cut-off year.
“We are getting reports that three people have been detected in Dalu and five in Rongjeng and a host of other reports that people with zero documents have been detected by our members. We request the administration of all the districts of Garo Hills to further their efforts, because we are sure that there is infiltration on a daily basis into Meghalaya,” the organisations added.
In Nongpoh, the Hynniewtrep National Youth Front Northern Region has urged the state government to set up more check gates in the district, especially on border roads.
Speaking to media persons after a meeting with the Ri Bhoi deputy commissioner on Friday, Marcus Marten, president of HNYF Northern Region, said the organisation is concerned about the NRC final draft list and the subsequent influx.
He also informed that the organization had submitted a memorandum to the Ri Bhoi DC to take up the demands of the organisation with the higher authority of the government.
“Beside the existing infiltration check gate at Byrnihat, we have also urged the government to set up more such gates in the district, especially in the vulnerable border roads which connect with the neighbouring state of Assam like Ranibari in Jirang, Sabuda in Block II, Sonapur-Umsiang road and Sonapur-Umden road as the organisation feels that most of the illegal immigrants will try to avoid the main road of Guwahati-Shillong and enter through these border roads to evade checking,” he added.
The organisation had a discussion with the DC regarding setting up check gates at Umtyrnga and Killing as these areas do not fall under the present infiltration check gate in Byrnihat in which the Ri Bhoi DC had assured them to take up the matter with the government.
