Saleng A. Sangma, a Congress MP from Tura, has asked the Center to immediately bolster security along the porous India-Bangladesh border, cautioning that tense ties with the neighboring nation represent a severe threat to both national security and Meghalaya.His comments coincide with widespread worries over reported unlawful infiltration from Bangladesh through susceptible areas of the international border in recent days.
Sangma addressed the issue, warning that uncontrolled unlawful immigration might have serious repercussions for the nation’s internal and national security and that it should not be treated lightly.He claimed to have brought up the matter with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Central government, emphasizing the pressing need for improved border security.In order to stop illicit crossings, the Tura MP proposed building physical barriers along the international border, comparing them to the fence along the US-Mexico border. Additionally, he stated that the current security measures are still insufficient in a number of regions and urged for the deployment of more Border Security Force (BSF) soldiers along the international border in the Northeast.Sangma claims that several border sections are inadequately secured, making them open to intrusion by unauthorized people. He cautioned that the situation might worsen and become a major danger to the nation’s internal security if swift action is not taken to safeguard the border.Concerned that some locals could be helping foreigners get over border security, the Meghalaya Indigenous Women’s Council (MIWC) has also expressed anxiety about the possible unlawful entry of Bangladeshi people into India.
MIWC president Bythygrace Dkhar issued a statement strongly denouncing an event that was reported on June 21 of last year in which inhabitants of Ladrymbai “B,” Everjoy Siangshai, David Dkhar, and Arpan Siangshai, were reportedly implicated in assisting illegal movement across the border.
The fact that Bangladeshis are being transported into India in spite of BSF officers stationed along the border is startling. This reveals significant security and surveillance flaws, according to Dkhar.Citing the dangers of theft, harassment, and exploitation of houses, farms, and stores, she cautioned that such actions endanger local residents’ safety, property, and means of subsistence.Dkhar, pointing out that some places have seen a sharp increase in the number of migrants in recent years, encouraged the government to carry out checks in places like Ladrymbai, Soo Kilo, Iew Cement (Sutnga), and adjacent cement plant zones.
The MIWC president emphasized that unlawful infiltration poses a danger to Meghalaya’s indigenous populations’ identity, culture, and land rights in addition to local security. Although Arpan Siangshai was mentioned in the report, she underlined that he is a Ladrymbai Datsimpein native and not an outsider.In order to ensure the protection of indigenous rights in the state, the council has urged the authorities to increase border surveillance and impose stringent measures to stop more unlawful entry.