By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Jan 4: Amid government projecting an image of tight border management, the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) has alleged serious lapses in the guarding of Meghalaya’s international boundary amid ongoing instability in Bangladesh.
KSU general secretary Donald Thabah said that since the outbreak of conflict in Bangladesh, the organisation has instructed all its units and circles—particularly those along the international border—to remain on high alert. He added that vigilance has also been extended across the state, as illegal entrants can access Meghalaya not only through direct border crossings but also via indirect routes from other parts of the country.
Thabah said this was not the first instance of suspected illegal infiltration detected by the KSU, noting that similar cases have been reported earlier in several areas, including locations far from the immediate border. He alleged that despite the presence of agencies tasked with border security, infiltration continues, raising serious questions about the effectiveness of existing measures.
According to him, the government has largely confined itself to issuing assurances without translating them into sustained action on the ground, thereby aggravating the burden on what he described as an already influx-hit state.
He further said that while mechanisms such as the Inner Line Permit (ILP) and other regulatory frameworks are important, they cannot by themselves secure the borders unless accompanied by strict and sincere enforcement. Thabah asserted that the KSU would continue to remain vigilant and detect cases of illegal entry, while urging the authorities not to suppress or conceal such incidents when they come to light.
He stressed that illegal immigration is not merely a state concern but a national security issue, and called on the government to demonstrate greater seriousness in protecting the borders.
Meanwhile, the Narpuh Circle of the Khasi Students’ Union apprehended two Bangladeshi nationals near Dona School along National Highway-6, close to the international border, in East Jaintia Hills district. The KSU said its activists handed the two individuals over to the Umkiang Police Patrolling Post for further investigation.
According to the organisation, the two men disclosed during questioning that they were part of a larger group attempting to enter India illegally and were being guided by two touts—one Indian and one Bangladeshi—for a payment of 8,500 Bangladeshi taka.
The KSU further alleged that officials at the Umkiang Police Post initially attempted to prevent the activists from formally reporting the incident, an action it claimed amounted to concealing the illegal entry. The union alleged that this was intended to shield the brokers involved in facilitating cross-border infiltration and demanded a transparent investigation into the incident.
