Shillong, Sep 10: The Garoland State Movement Committee (GSMC), Pedaldoba Regional Unit, has petitioned the Deputy Commissioner of West Garo Hills, alleging coercive enrolment of Meghalaya residents in Assam census in border villages.
Chairman Rimjen Ch. Sangma, in a letter today, alleged that census officials from Goalpara entered villages like Ku’rung and Saltopgre under Raksamgre Civil Sub-Division around 11 am on Wednesday and intimidated residents to register in Assam.
He said the residents are long-time citizens of Meghalaya since statehood with voter IDs, ration cards and Aadhaar linked to Meghalaya and availing benefits from the state government. He claimed officials threatened denial of government benefits if they resisted.
Sangma said villages like Saltopgre, Kurung, Pedaldoba and Rongsai lie in disputed territory but remain administratively under Meghalaya, with Jinjiram River as natural boundary, and warned that double registration could lead to loss of Meghalaya citizenship, ST status and voting rights.
He urged the DC to defend rights of Meghalaya citizens, issue a directive against coercive Assam enrolment, deploy District Census Officer or Border Magistrate for verification, and take up the matter with Goalpara DC.
