Meghalaya BJP has warned about serious security challenges to Northeast states in the wake of the increasing influence of radicalised Islamist groups in Bangladesh could pose serious security challenges for the northeastern region.State BJP spokesperson Mariahom Kharkrang said statements made by some sections from Bangladesh about separating the Northeast is “dangerous” and calls for close attention. “Previous governments in Bangladesh had maintained friendly relations with India, to the extent of dismantling the camps of militant groups from the northeastern region. But Bangladesh today is different,” Kharkrang said.“Tackling a radicalised environment in the neighbouring country is fraught with danger even as there are no immediate indications of violence in the Northeast. Therefore, bolstering border management and preventing infiltration are imperative,” Kharkrang said.
He pointed out that the India-Bangladesh border in Meghalaya is largely guarded by the Border Security Force (BSF) unlike Jammu and Kashmir which has a heavy Army presence.The BJP leader therefore stressed the need for strict vigilance by the BSF to prevent any security breaches and urged coordinated action by both state and central governments to ensure peace and stability in the region. Shillong MP Ricky A.J. Syngkon had earlier flagged the implications of the situation in Bangladesh for Meghalaya, which shares a 443-km border with the neighbouring country.Terming the border as mostly porous, Syngkon had stated that recurring incidents of illegal infiltration should serve as a wake-up call for the authorities as well as the people.“The developments in Bangladesh have a direct bearing on Meghalaya,” the MP had stated, insisting that the problem of illegal crossings surfaces periodically and cannot be taken lightly.He also drew attention to the economic impact of border instability, noting that as a border state, Meghalaya’s economy is particularly vulnerable.