Deputy Chief Minister and minister in charge of the Home Department, Prestone Tynsong, today stated that the situation along the Meghalaya stretch of the international border with Bangladesh is fine and the security forces are on high alert in case of any attempts of illegal entry.
Giving a status update on the prevailing situation along the international border with Bangladesh, Tynsong said, “Till today everything is fine and the BSF along with district administration are in touch and nobody can enter”.
He, however, added, “Of course there was an attempt to enter India but it has already been stopped by the BSF, also with the help of the traditional heads like the Rangbah Shnongs.”
Asked about the unfenced stretches of the international border, he said, “We have taken into consideration the issues, be it fenced or unfenced, we have strengthened the manpower and that has been taken care of. My concern is to ensure that there is no illegal entry into Indian Territory.”
Although concern is high, there have been few if any visits from senior politicians to the border and Tynsong is unlikely to make the trip. “The trouble starts on the other side of the border. There is no incident this side but the government has given direction [to law enforcement] to be more proactive and vigilant and in case illegal entry happens we need to take stern action. There are no excuses for that.”
Talking about the concerns for the people belonging to the Khasi, Jaintia and Garo communities residing in Bangladesh, he said, “As per the information and inputs we have received they are safe and sound. There are no reports of harassment or trouble and Khasi-Jaintia and Garo residing in Bangladesh are safe and sound.”
Meanwhile, the Central Puja Committee has condemned harassment and “torturing” of Hindus and damage to Hindu places of worship and has appealed to the Indian government to impress upon the Bangladesh government and United Nations to solve the “gross violation” of human rights of the minority Hindu community.
The Jaintia Students Movement (JSM) and Jaintia National Council (JNC) convened an urgent meeting on Tuesday to discuss the turmoil in Bangladesh and its potential effect on Meghalaya. They resolved that Meghalaya will not be allowed “to be turned into a refugee camp like in the 1971 War.”
They also urged the state government to create a 24×7 helpline to report concerns of infiltration across the international border.
