The Jaintia National Council (JNC) has demanded the immediate removal of the Border Security Force (BSF) check post at Sonapyrdi (Sonapur) in East Jaintia Hills and a strengthening of the anti-infiltration check gate.
A delegation of the JNC today met Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong.
The pressure group alleged harassment of the public by the BSF and demanded that the border force should be removed from places like Sonapyrdi, Umbluh and Dona where the BSF has set up mobile camps.
Earlier this month, the Khasi Students Union (KSU) claimed the BSF had assaulted three civilians and damaged cars at its check post at Sonapyrdi, a claim the BSF vehemently denied.
JNC president S Lyngdoh said that there have been numerous complaints by villagers that the BSF has been entering into villages to conduct random checks on vehicles and harassing the locals.
Lyngdoh also appealed that the anti-infiltration gate in the district should be strengthened in terms of manpower as the checking of vehicles entering the state through Ratacherra is weak. The absence of police patrolling means that there is a steady stream of illegal migrants coming in at night, he claimed.
Tynsong reportedly told the JNC delegation that a district coordination committee has been constituted to look into this matter but Lyngdoh said that the Deputy Commissioner of East Jaintia Hills has not done anything on the matter. Lyngdoh also claimed that Tynsong had agreed that there is little purpose for BSF camps to be far from the borders.
