No genuine citizen will be harassed, Home Minister

Shillong, Mar 21 (UNI) The Meghalaya government today promised to be cautious in the process of detecting foreigners and warned some NGOs not to take law into their hands against those allegedly involved in carrying out random operations to flush out illegal immigrants from the state.

Home Minister H D R Lyngdoh informed the assembly that the government ''appreciated'' the concern and endeavour of the NGOs who sought to help detect foreigners but advised them to refrain from taking law into their hand to avoid legal prosecution.

Replying to a starred question of Mr Manas Chaudhuri(Ind), he said the government recently conducted raids at various parts of the capital that led to apprehension of 128 foreigners, mostly Bangladeshis.

Replying to a separate supplementary, he said arrest of the foreigners was done according to foreigners act and informed that check posts were erected at some strategic locations in the state to contain illegal immigration.

Giving a break up of the past five years' activities in this regard Mr Lyngdoh said, of the 2094 arrested 54 were deported in 2001, 537 arrested and 42 deported in 2002, 2157 arrested and 72 deported in 2003, 1596 arrested and 18 deported in 2004, 3879 arrested and 16 deported in 2005 and 1463 arrested and 14 deported till this year.

To another starred question, Excise Minister Brening A Sangma said the total number of retail IMFL outlets in the state stood at 392, with East Khasi Hills having the highest number of 89.

This is followed by Jaintia Hills (80), West Garo Hills (79), Ri-Bhoi (56), West Khasi Hills (24), East Garo Hills (37) and South Garo Hills (27), Mr Sangma said.

UNI PRS PL SKM1330