JOWAI, July 31: The Confederation of Meghalaya Social Organisations (CoMSO) has urged the East Jaintia Hills district administration to act against illegal entry of foreign nationals, especially from Bangaldesh.
CoMSO leaders, led by vice chairman of its Jaintia Region unit, Sambormi Lyngdoh, called on East Jaintia Hills Deputy Commissioner Sivansh Avasthi in this regard on Thursday. During the meeting, they submitted a petition signed by the vice chairman and secretary of the CoMSO Jaintia Region.
The demand comes amid the ongoing eviction drive in Assam, where non-Indians are being expelled and ordered to return to their places of origin. With Assam barring non-Indians from residing within its borders, there are growing concerns that many of those expelled may attempt to take refuge and settle in East Jaintia Hills.
It is worth noting that the Union Ministry of Home Affairs recently directed all states to set up Special Task Forces (STFs)
to monitor and prevent the illegal entry of foreigners into the country. However, the Deputy Commissioner informed the CoMSO delegation that no official instructions regarding the formation of STFs have yet been received from the state government.
Despite this, the DC expressed his willingness to work in the interest of the district, particularly on the issue of preventing illegal immigration. He said a meeting would soon be convened with the headmen of villages in East Jaintia Hills, along with government officials, to discuss strategies for curbing illegal entry. The DC also mentioned plans to carry out raids in certain villages suspected of harbouring foreigners, in coordination with the local headmen.
