Meghalaya dismantles ‘check posts’ set up to ‘thwart Assam influx’
Meghalaya government on Tuesday dismantled the anti-infiltration check posts put up by the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) at porous locations to check possible illegal influx from Assam, where four million people were excluded from the draft National Register of Citizens.
KSU members began checking in the morning people entering the state through Ratacherra in East Jaintia hills, Byrnihat in Ri Bhoi and Athiabari in West Khasi Hills districts. KSU general secretary Donald Thabah said over 1,000 “illegal migrants” were detected in 30 commercial lorries in Jaintia Hills alone. They came from Barak Valley in Assam.
“The KSU will not recognise identification through EPIC because they could be fake or invalid, only the NRC list will be accorded recognition,” Thabah said even as he affirmed that the students’ union will leave no stone unturned to prevent any surge in influx into the hill state on account of the draft NRC released by Assam on Monday.
Later in the day, the state government swung into action and prevailed upon the student body to allow the state machinery to enforce the law. In a conciliatory tone, KSU members were assured they would be part of the process to detect illegal immigrants and were requested to relocate to the authorised government check points and work with the staff.
Deputy inspector general (eastern range) AR Mawthoh said the temporary gates have been dismantled. “We spoke with the student members and assured them that we too are committed to ensuring that no such incident occurs in our state. They were very understanding and complied with our request to dismantle their temporary check points,” Mawthoh said, adding, “We are already maintaining high vigil to thwart any attempt to illegally enter Meghalaya.”
There were also reports of attempts by the Assam Police to intervene and dissuade KSU volunteers in Ratacherra from checking trucks to detect possible illegal migrants but the matter was sorted out with timely intervention by local administration.
SHILLONG:The