WGH DC & SP’s action sought against possible influx of evicted illegal migrants from Assam’s Goalpara
From Our Correspondent
TURA, July 19: Fearing possible influx of evicted illegal migrants from Goalpara, Assam, into neighbouring areas of Garo Hills, the District Youth Congress Committee (DYCC) in West Garo Hills has urged the West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner and the Superintendent of Police to take preventive measures.
In separate appeals submitted to the DC and the SP, the committee highlighted concerns over the porous, often unmonitored border areas between Goalpara and West Garo Hills, which could potentially allow evicted individuals to enter and settle illegally in the district, particularly in the border villages adjoining Assam.
The committee warned that such influx could result in administrative, social and demographic challenges, including stress on local resources, disruption of social harmony and potential law and order issues.
To address these concerns, the committee suggested intensified monitoring and patrolling in all border villages and entry points, coordination with local village authorities and law enforcement agencies to report any suspicious movements, conducting verification drives and ID checks, and collaborating with the Assam administration for timely intelligence sharing.
Additionally, the committee urged the police to enhance border surveillance, deploy security checkpoints at strategic entry routes, engage with Nokmas and community leaders to report unusual settlement activities, and coordinate closely with Assam Police to prevent illegal infiltration into West Garo Hills.
On Thursday, one person was killed and several others were injured, including policemen, in a clash between evicted people and security personnel in Paikan reserve forest in Assam’s Goalpara district.
According to officials, forest guards and police personnel were attacked by alleged encroachers with sticks when they had gone to cordon off a part of the Paikan reserve forest, where an eviction drive was carried out.
The evicted people also hurled stones at the forest guards and police personnel there, the officials said.