Nominated MDC Bindo Lanong said today that the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) should conduct its own census every two or five years to keep track of the migrant population within its jurisdiction.
Traditional bodies like the Dorbar Shnongs would be roped in to help with such a process, he said, which is necessary because there appears to be a large flow of illegal settlers every day into the state.
Lanong said this while discussion the consequences of the attack on a Khasi Students Union activist in Ichamati in February, which has led to tensions, felt to this day in the state and beyond.
Meanwhile, Shella MDC Teiñwell Dkhar said that there were around 40 armed people who attacked the KSU meeting, which led to the death of Lurshai Hynniewta, but only 17 were apprehended, the rest having seemingly disappeared.
“Where are the rest? They are nowhere in Shella, Bholaganj or Ichamati because they went to Bangladesh because they are foreigners,” he claimed without offering any proof.
In response, Chief Executive Member Titosstar Chyne said that this is the reason that the KHADC has constituted a special committee that will study the Ichamati matter and the executive committee will also consider the idea for a census.
