Shillong, Jan 28: The Confederation of Meghalaya Social Organisations (CoMSO) has urged the Central and State governments not to treat the purported ISIS threat against the Garo community lightly but to immediately deploy counter terror and intelligence agencies to probe into the origin, intent, and networks behind the threat.
CoMSO in a memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said the government is expected to take immediate, firm and visible action in the interest of national security, constitutional values and protection of indigenous people.
It said that failure to act decisively will embolden hostile elements and deepen insecurity in a sensitive border region.
Calling for enhanced security deployment in Garo Hills, CoMSO also urged the governments to take strict legal action and prosecute all individuals involved under relevant anti-terror and national security laws as well as zero tolerance for those aiding, abetting, or shielding extremist activities.
As long-term preventive measures, CoMSO suggested the Centre and the State governments to review the border security mechanism and to monitor and dismantle radical propaganda networks.
The organisation said the threat, irrespective of whether it is eventually confirmed as an act of an international terror outfit or a locally orchestrated act of intimidation, constitutes a direct threat to internal security, communal harmony, indigenous rights, and the sovereignty of India.
Meanwhile, social activist Greneth M Sangma claimed that those involved in the threat are outsiders, allegedly from Bangladesh, with dual votes in Assam and Meghalaya.
“They are attempting to claim land belonging to the Garos, protected under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution,” he said in a letter to Home Minister Prestone Tynsong.
Sangma said the incident highlights the need for implementation of the Inner Line Permit, deletion of dual voters, separate electoral roll for the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council, National Register of Citizens and strict implementation of laws protecting tribal lands.
