Meghalaya govt urged to pre-empt influx from Assam
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Shillong, July 26 2012:
With ethnic violence continuing in the neighbouring Assam, political parties and student bodies have urged the Meghalaya government to pre-empt any possible 'influx' of Bangladeshi migrants into the state.
"The government should alert the police and take all necessary steps to prevent any possible influx of refugees into Meghalaya," said Paul Lyngdoh, working president of the United Democratic Party, a major constituent of the Congress-led Meghalaya United Alliance government.
The party has cautioned the government against any 'complacency' in view of the ongoing turmoil in Assam.
On the other hand, Khasi Students Union (KSU) submitted a memorandum to home minister HDR Lyngdoh urging the government to tighten vigil at checkpoints along the inter-state border.
In the wake of reports that people from the Muslim community were trying to enter Meghalaya following the communal flare-up in Assam, the KSU urged the state government to strengthen its anti-infiltration wing.
"We fear that Bangladeshis will enter the state to avoid the clash in Southern Assam," a student leader said.
"The government should act before it is too late.
We will not allow Meghalaya to become another Assam, where the indigenous population has been reduced to a minority," he emphasized.
Police sources said vigil has been mounted along the inter-state boundary with Assam to thwart any possible influx of riot victims into Meghalaya from the violence-hit neighbouriung state.
state boundary, which has often led to flare-ups including killing of four Khasi villagers at the disputed area of Langpih by Assam police personnel a few years back.
At present, chief-secretarial level talks are on between the two states to resolve the boundary dispute, over which chief minister Sangma and his Assam counterpart Tarun Gogoi have also held talks.