Perils looming in plains belt of Garo Hills
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Feb 3: State BJP vice president and Tura MDC Bernard N Marak has accused the Meghalaya Government of gross negligence and deliberate inaction, alleging that commitments made at the State Level Monitoring Committee meeting in September, 2025, have been blatantly ignored, despite repeated assurances.
In a letter to Home Minister Prestone Tynsong, Marak said the government has failed to honour assurances that included holding review meetings every two months, appointing nodal officers, examining rehabilitation packages for remaining cadres, and forming and approving district-level committees. He pointed out that even the meeting proposed for November 2025 has not taken place, more than four months later.
Marak alleged that the minutes circulated after the September meeting selectively omitted several major points discussed during the three-and-a-half-hour deliberations, calling it a serious distortion of the proceedings. He said the continued delay reflects a “step-motherly treatment” towards Garo Hills and exposes the government’s lack of seriousness in addressing long-pending Garo-related issues.
Raising grave security concerns, Marak warned of what he described as an ISIS-K-linked threat in Garo Hills, alleging that illegal quarries have become a conduit for illegal migrants operating across the plain areas. He referred to the death of a Garo youth under Rajabala Police Station a few weeks ago, stating that gunshots were reportedly heard during the incident but were hushed up.
According to him, FIRs have been filed in cases involving illegal quarries, illegal transportation of major and minor minerals, illegal collections, and alleged official complicity, yet no state- or district-level review meetings have been convened.
The Tura MDC further alleged that armed groups are operating in the plains belt of Garo Hills and that attacks on Garo youths linked to illegal quarry operations have resulted in loss of life, without proper inquiry or media reporting.
He claimed that the absence of coordinated action has allowed illegal trades and unlicensed activities to flourish unchecked.
Marak also flagged what he termed the unconstitutional application of the Assam Land Regulation Act in Sixth Schedule areas, alleging that lease pattas were issued by the GHADC to non-tribals in the plain belt and later extended to hill areas without legal sanction. He warned that such practices undermine tribal land rights and could have long-term constitutional implications, adding that RTI replies supporting his claims were enclosed with the letter.
Calling the situation critical, Marak demanded the immediate convening of the state-level review meeting, appointment of nodal officers, strict enforcement of Sixth Schedule protections, and approval of district-level committee members forwarded earlier. Copies of the letter were also sent to the Union Home Minister, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Chief Minister, and other authorities.
