SHILLONG: The Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) has called upon the State Government to carry out a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in the plain belts of Garo Hills, asserting that such an exercise would reveal significant demographic changes in the region.
HYC president Roykupar Synrem raised the issue in the context of alleged settlement of Bangladeshi immigrants in the Garo Hills plains and the recent killing of activist Dilseng A. Sangma in the Goalgaon area under Rajabala Police Station.
Expressing concern over reports of widespread illegal infiltration from Bangladesh through the porous India–Bangladesh border, Synrem said that conducting a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) would expose what he described as an uncomfortable reality, with large stretches of tribal-owned land in Garo Hills allegedly being encroached upon by “outsiders”.
Synrem claimed that infiltration continues despite extensive fencing along the international border. He alleged that information indicates groups of 30 to 40 people crossing at night and moving from border areas through Shillong to other cities, including Kolkata.
Synrem questioned why the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister have been unable to persuade the Centre on the implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system in Meghalaya, despite sustained demands from various organisations.
Expressing concern over the alleged circulation of forged documents, he asked why the authorities have failed to identify those believed to be behind the preparation of such papers. He also questioned the effectiveness of the Directorate of Infiltration, stating that the government’s response to the issue remained inadequate.
He further alleged that intermediaries and employers who engage undocumented migrants as low-cost labour contribute to the problem, while also stating that sections of the local population have not treated the issue with the seriousness it deserves.
According to Synrem, the Centre has tended to downplay the matter, even though Meghalaya shares a long and sensitive border with Bangladesh.
The HYC president also highlighted shortcomings in the implementation of the Inter-State Migrant Workmen Act, 2020, which requires migrant workers to be registered with the Labour Department and their details shared with local police stations and authorities. He claimed that such information seldom reaches the local administration.
Referring to statements by the Chief Minister on introducing an ILP-like mechanism through amendments to the Immigrants and Foreigners Act, Synrem said the concern extends beyond foreign nationals to include unchecked migration from other parts of the country.
He added that in the absence of ILP, the organisation had demanded the implementation of the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security (Amendment) Bill 2020, which he said could help curb illegal entry to an extent. However, he recalled that the Deputy Chief Minister had earlier stated that the this Bill would “die a natural death” as it failed to receive a nod from the Centre.
Synrem said that while laws and regulatory mechanisms exist, a lack of political will has prevented their effective enforcement.
