Shillong, Aug 25: Meghalaya has detected 736 foreign nationals staying illegally since 2021, of which 262 have been deported after serving sentences and securing travel permits, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma told the Assembly on Tuesday.
He was replying to a short-duration discussion on VPP’s 10-point charter moved by Nongkrem MLA Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit.
Sangma said the Anti-Infiltration Directorate is the nodal agency for detection and deportation, acting as per Ministry of Home Affairs directives.
Task forces have been set up in all 12 districts to identify Bangladeshi nationals staying illegally, conducting regular drives and monthly surprise checks by joint teams of magistrates, police and infiltration branch officials.
A state-level committee headed by Principal Secretary/Secretary, Home (Political) has been formed to identify foreigners overstaying since Jan 1, 2011, with monthly reports to MHA.
He said 18 anti-infiltration checkposts, railway facilitation centres and Land Customs Stations have been set up along Indo-Bangladesh and interstate borders. Joint patrolling and naka checking by State Police and BSF is on, along with electronic surveillance and high-density lights at strategic points.
Nokmas, headmen and Village Defence Parties in border villages have been roped in. Sangma said the VDP scheme has been reviewed to provide more equipment, technology and financial aid in sensitive areas.
On MRSSA, 2016, he said task forces are in place in all districts and online registration is on since September 2022. So far, 966 localities, 561 sub-localities, 1,653 landlords and 5,042 tenants have registered — higher than figures placed in February.
Migrant workers must register under the Meghalaya Identification, Registration, Safety and Security of Migrant Workers Act, 2020. Rules have been finalised and will go to cabinet.
The facilitation centre at Umling will be made operational soon with tourist facilities and food court. A similar centre is proposed at Ratacherra and other locations.
