SHILONG: Phulbari MLA and NPP leader SG Esmatur Mominin has blamed Assam-based gangs operating in Garo Hills region for the spurt in criminal activities in the region
The statement came from the MLA of plain belt following the recent assertion of groups in Garo Hills which held unabated influx as the cause for the rising crime in Garo Hills.
Talking to media persons here on Wednesday, Mominin said that the people of the plains share a cordial relationship with those in the uplands as 80 per cent of them are businessmen.
He, however, said that as the plains of Garo Hills share border with neighbouring Assam, there are criminals who come from the border and operate in Meghalaya.
Earlier, leaders from various organisations including GSMC, GSU, CEC, AIGU and AAYWS had submitted a memorandum to Home Minister James Sangma while urging him to effectively check influx in the region.
On being asked if there were any Bangladesh immigrants involved in such criminal activities, Mominin said, “As far as my knowledge goes, police have not arrested anybody from Bangladesh. But of course from Assam criminals come and operate here”.
Despite the criminals committing different types of crimes like dacoity and kidnapping, Mominin said that he has no knowledge about any Bangladeshi person committing criminal activity till date. He also said that many of them who were arrested belonged to Assam, and they were involved in criminal activities which were mostly concentrated in a place called Kaptuli.
Mominin said such criminal activities were on the rise during the militancy period before 2014 and later, such cases have declined.
