Assam NRC: Meghalaya pushes back 223 ‘outsiders’ since Aug 31

Shillong: Massive security arrangements have been made at the entry points bordering Assam as Meghalaya pushed back 223 ‘outsiders’ to the places of their origin since August 31, the day the much-awaited National Register of Citizens (NRC) was released in Assam.

Sources in the state secretariat informed EastMojo that the ‘outsiders’ were sent back as they could not produce original valid documents. They have been asked to bring valid documents as and when they visit the state, sources added.

Meanwhile, security arrangements along the areas bordering Assam have been intensified. Over 30 check posts or check gates have been set up in different areas of the state. In addition, other check gates have also been set up in districts like Ri Bhoi, East Jaintia Hills District, South West Khasi Hills, North Garo Hills District and South West Garo Hills district.

Participating in a discussion during the ongoing autumn session of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly, chief minister Conrad K Sangma on Tuesday said, “After the final draft of NRC in Assam, till date, there are a total of 223 outsiders detected and they were sent back directly to their place of origin since they could not produce original documents. They were advised to bring valid documents as and when they visit the state. The government is concerned with the issue and exhorts all line department and civil society to assist in our endeavour to tackle the situation.”

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Fearing that the state will have to bear the fallout of the release of the final NRC in Assam, the chief minister informed the House that an inspector general of police (IGP) has been appointed as nodal officer to deal with matters relating to the infiltration arising and to collate the data of new check points formed and the existing ones also to give the updates on the number of people pushed back.

The government has alerted all field units to maintain strict vigilance round the clock. Instructions have also been issued to conduct checking comprehensively and to ensure not to allow anyone coming from Assam without sufficient documents.

“Instructions have been given to the district superintendents of police and Infiltration Special Squads to provide a contact number of a responsible officer posted in the district who shall liaise with the NGOs in sharing information in cases of infiltration of outsiders. The Infiltration Special Squad present in all districts has been directed to conduct enumeration of villages and submit an enumeration report every month as a precautionary step in detecting infiltrators.”