Shillong, Mar 30: Nangrimingin A’chik Dol (NAD), a pressure group in Garo Hills, has demanded a thorough and impartial investigation into the activities of what it said were illegal Bangladeshi intruders and their role in inciting communal unrest.
The pressure group also demanded immediate eviction drives against all illegal settlers occupying tribal lands in Garo Hills.
The demand comes in the wake of communal violence earlier this month in Garo Hills, which left two dead, several injured and property damaged.
Francis Marak, NAD spokesperson, said during a press conference today that the pressure group wants border security strengthened and strict enforcement of laws to prevent further illegal infiltration and protection of the constitutional and customary rights of the indigenous tribal communities under the Sixth Schedule.
Garo Hills has a large non-tribal (mostly Muslim) population living in the plains belt. Accusations have often been levelled that they are illegal Bangladeshi migrants, though the settlers themselves would insist on being Indian citizens.
The pressure group also wanted a National Investigation Agency (NIA) probe into the murder earlier this year of Dilseng M Sangma, an activist who was killed while inspecting illegal quarries that were supposedly owned by migrants. The NAD also demanded the stoppage of illegal stone quarries in West Garo Hills and South West Garo Hills.
The group also made accusations of the gangrape of a Garo girl, spreading of communal hatred, intimidation, etc. It also demanded that members of Garo organisations arrested on suspicion of being involved in the recent violence, be freed.
