HANM to evict illegal migrants in Meghalaya

Shillong, Oct 14 (UNI) The Hynniewtrep A'chik National Movement (HANM) has decided to carry out eviction drive against illegal immigrants to stop Meghalaya from facing a Tripura and Assam-like situation.

''We don't want Meghalaya to become another Tripura where indigenous people have been reduced to a minority. The situation arising out of illegal migrants in Assam and other Northeastern states has alarmed us,'' HANM president Lamphrang Kharbani told reporters here.

He said the organisation would conduct eviction drive against illegal migrants across the state and would soon seek cooperation of all traditional bodies to ensure that ''non-tribals'' were not allowed to enter the state without valid documents.

''We will also appeal to the contractors and individuals not to employ illegal migrants in any kind of work in the state,'' Mr Kharbani said.

The HANM chief said unchecked influx of people, especially Bangladeshis, had posed a big threat to the demography of the state and the identity of indigenous people (Khasi-Jaintia and Garo).

''The failure of the government to deal with the influx problem has compelled HANM to make a decision to take up urgent steps to stop the menace,'' he said.

Meanwhile, HANM has set a two-week deadline for the government to reduce prices of essential commodities.

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