Nongpoh, Aug 14: Suspected illegal migrants were checked for documents at the Anti-Infiltration Check Gate in Byrnihat on Thursday by leaders and members of HYC along with personnel from the Infiltration department.
During the operation, individuals who failed to produce valid documents were directed to return to their point of origin, while those with proper identification were allowed entry into Meghalaya to proceed to their destinations.
The drive was joined by senior leaders from the HYC central body, including vice president Francis G Mawlong and chief organising secretary John Lyngdoh, alongside other central leaders and members from the Ri Bhoi District unit.
Speaking to the media, Francis G Mawlong said the operation was prompted by reports that neighbouring Assam had recently evicted illegal settlers, raising concerns that such individuals might attempt to enter and settle in Meghalaya.
He stated that while the HYC has been carrying out such checks periodically, this particular drive was aimed at curbing what the group described as an “influx”
of people evicted from Assam. Mawlong also pointed out that Meghalaya currently lacks stringent laws to effectively regulate the entry of suspected illegal immigrants.
“The HYC is conducting similar checks across the Khasi-Jaintia Hills, not just in Ri Bhoi District,” he said, adding that the organisation plans to continue the exercise round-the-clock for the next week starting Thursday.
Mawlong expressed particular concern over the discovery that many of those entering from Assam did not possess even an EPIC card to establish their Indian citizenship. He also alleged that there has been a rush of people in Byrnihat attempting to register labour cards for such individuals. “We will meet the authorities concerned to discuss this matter,” he said.
He further noted that some entrants were producing only labour card ‘acknowledgement slips’ as proof of identity, which the HYC insists are not valid documents for entry into Meghalaya. “This is merely a loophole being exploited to gain easy access to the state,” Mawlong remarked.
