Shillong, Sep 20: The Hynniewtrep Youths’ Council (HYC) has questioned whether authorities are serious enough in keeping a check on illegal migration from Bangladesh after it emerged a few days ago that 27 Bangladeshis had entered the state through Dawki and then crossed into Assam before being arrested there.
The pressure group demanded that surveillance along the international border in Meghalaya be strengthened, especially along vulnerable stretches. Meghalaya shares a 443km border with the neighbouring country.
In a statement issued on Sunday, HYC president Roy Kupar Synrem questioned how the 27 could cross Meghalaya without being detected.
“For years, the HYC and civil society organisations have highlighted vulnerabilities along portions of the Indo-Bangladesh border and warned about organised networks facilitating illegal cross-border movement. Yet, the response of the authorities continues to be reactive rather than preventive,” he said.
On Wednesday police in Assam arrested 27 Bangladeshis – 12 from the Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC) facility at Paltanbazar in Guwahati and another 15 from the Guwahati-Jammu Tawi Express in Rangiya.
Police had said the intruders comprised men, women and minors. They were reportedly using Guwahati as a transit hub to move to other parts of India in search of work.
“The government cannot treat this matter as resolved merely because these individuals were eventually apprehended in Assam. The real issue is how they allegedly crossed the border, how they travelled through our region without detection and whether an organised network facilitated their movement,” the Synrem said while calling for a thorough and time-bound investigation.
Periodic arrests of illegal migrants are often made in Meghalaya, as the state is one of the prime crossings for Bangladeshis. Very often those arrested are found in the company of locals who act as guides and facilitators.
Synrem said that the alleged involvement of touts, brokers, transporters, facilitators, or anyone else involved in illegal entry and movement must be identified, investigated and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
It further sought a comprehensive review of the security gaps that allegedly enabled this movement, effective intelligence-sharing and coordinated action among the BSF, Meghalaya Police, Assam Police and other concerned agencies, identification and investigation of networks, facilitators and intermediaries involved in illegal cross-border movement.
He also called upon the Meghalaya and Union governments to immediately review security arrangements along the Dawki sector and other vulnerable portions of the international border, and to implement concrete corrective measures “rather than limiting the response to statements and assurances.”
3 illegals detained by JSU
Shillong, Sep 20: The Jaintia Students’ Union (JSU) today intercepted and apprehended three suspected Bangladeshi nationals at Lad Demthring.
Upon apprehension and subsequent document verification, the individuals confessed to their true nationality.
The suspects were intercepted while traveling in a white Suzuki tourist vehicle (ML 04E 3485), which is registered to Treibor Kyndait of Shkenpyrsit.
Following the roadside interception, the individuals were immediately transported and handed over to the custody of the Jowai Police Station. The Union has ensured that a formal FIR was filed so that a strict legal case is registered against the individuals.
The JSU said that, during the proceedings, brokers attempting to protect the network approached the union, offering bribes amounting to lakhs of rupees to secure the release of the perpetrators, which the union rejected.
