Meghalaya student bodies warn govt on influx

Shillong, Oct 31 (UNI) In the aftermath of the serial terror attacks on Assam, two influential students bodies today warned the Meghalaya Progressive Alliance government of taking the law into their own hands if the government failed to tackle the unabated influx of illegal Bangladesh immigrants in the state.

The Khasi Student's Union (KSU) and Garo Student's Union (GSU) said the inflow of Bangladeshi nationals to North East states has created a sense of insecurity, especially following the string of blasts across the country.

''The government should start implementing the work permit system to check influx of people in Meghalaya,'' KSU general secretary Hamlet Dohling said.

Recently, the KSU activists had closed down a mosque in the coal and limestone-rich Jaintia Hills district for ''sheltering illegal Bangladeshis''.

Likewise, in other areas of the state, the KSU detained suspected Bangladeshi nationals, who claimed to be citizens of Assam.

''The state government must activate the infiltration check gates at Byrnihat in Ri-Bhoi district and at Umkiang in Jaintia Hills districts,'' Mr Dohling said.

He said if the government refused to activate the infiltration gates, the KSU will deploy its activists to check the antecedents of the people coming to the state.

The GSU demanded immediate implementation of work permit and strengthening of check gates in Garo Hills areas.

''The government must implement the work permit system in the backdrop of the serial blasts in Assam and elsewhere in the country,'' GSU leader Sanjeeb Sangma said.

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