SHILLONG:
The Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) has urged the state police to make the seven border outposts fully operational to provide adequate security to the people residing along the interstate border so that they can freely decide when it comes to resolving the boundary dispute.
This came after NGOs from Karbi-Anglong recently threatened of Manipur like situation if people chose to go with Meghalaya.
In a memorandum submitted to Director General of Police (DGP) LR Bishnoi on Tuesday, HYC president Robertjune Kharjahrin said, “This is a threat to the free will of the people and the HYC strongly condemns such statements and is totally against it. Hence, in order to ensure that the people are able to decide freely, providing adequate security in the border areas is a must.”
He also suggested that all the seven new border outposts (BoPs) and outposts (OPs) in “sensitive areas” along the interstate border with Assam as declared by the state government last year be made fully operational.
“The manpower in the existing BOPs and OPs should be increased and the police personnel must be supplied with all the necessary requirements for their effective performance of the mandated duties and functions,” Kharjahrin said.
He also pointed out that among several principles adopted by the two states to settle the boundary disputes, one is the “willingness of the people residing in the disputed area” and said, “We believe that the people must decide by their own free will without any compulsion or threat or coercion from any quarter.”
Issue of influx
Expressing concern over the issue of influx and illegal immigration into the state, the HYC leader however said the HYC is of the opinion that the Directorate of Infiltration has not performed its duty up to the expectations of the public and as mandated.
“Hence…to ensure that the Directorate of Infiltration performs its duty as mandated we further suggest that the Directorate should cooperate with the village authorities and the village defence party to prevent entry and settlement of immigrants in each and every village. We further suggest that an order may be issued to all villages that each and every village must prepare and submit a register containing all newly residents coming from other states and from other countries,” he added.
Rampant drugs in state
Meanwhile, the HYC also urged the state police to adopt proper strategy to reduce drug trafficking in the state.
“Selling and consuming of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances in the state seems to be increasing day by day. And we are of the opinion that maximum quantity of these drugs are being supplied to the state from outside. We firmly believe that if the law enforcement agencies could reduce the trafficking of these drugs, the situation will be improved drastically,” Kharjahrin added.
“We would also like to suggest that the State Police, the Border Security Force and the Custom & Central Excise should conduct joint operations and share information on drugs by pooling in resources to effectively tackle the menace of drugs in the state as frequently as possible and also rope in village authorities in this effort. Regular checking should be conducted frequently at the entry points to the state,” he further stated.