From CK Nayak
NEW DELHI, Aug 12: In a major respite to the Northeastern states, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday assured Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma that nobody from strife-torn Bangladesh would be allowed to enter the landlocked Northeast, including Meghalaya, which share a 443-km-long partially porous border with the neighbouring country.
Sangma along with Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong met the Home Minister here and discussed the India-Bangladesh border affairs in Meghalaya.
“The Home Minister assured that no individual from Bangladesh would be allowed to enter the Northeastern states and all necessary measures were being taken along the borders,” he said.
“Following my request, he (Shah) also said that he would consider further tightening the security along the India-Bangladesh international border by deploying additional forces,” the chief minister said after the meeting.
The Indian government is committed to keeping the country’s borders safe and secure and appealed to all to maintain peace and harmony, Sangma said, quoting Shah.
Sangma also briefed the Home Minister about the prevailing situation along the border villages. “I told him that the Army and BSF were doing good work in maintaining security along the India-Bangladesh border. Strict vigils along the border are being maintained. The Meghalaya government on August 5 imposed a night curfew all along the 443-km-long India-Bangladesh border,” Sangma said, adding that Meghalaya Police is also on high alert.
The Centre has taken a series of measures including deployment of additional forces to prevent infiltration and any kind of untoward incident along the borders.
India and Bangladesh share a 4,096-kilometre-long international border, the fifth-longest land border in the world, including 262 km in Assam, 856 km in Tripura, 318 km in Mizoram, 443 km in Meghalaya, and 2,217 km in West Bengal.
On Monday, the East Khasi Hills District Magistrate informed that all border haats in the district have been suspended for trade operations with immediate effect.
The chief minister and his deputy also had a meeting with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and demanded establishment of growth hubs in New Shillong Township and other areas of the state.
Sangma also expressed his gratitude to the Centre for sanctioning new roads worth Rs 2,500 crore under the externally aided projects.