SHILLONG, MAY 27: Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Home (Police) Prestone Tynsong said the process of verifying the credentials of the people residing at Lum Survey is still going on and that law will take its own course if they are found to be illegal settlers.
Speaking to reporters, Tynsong said, “The law is there. The regulation is always there. We are also not in favour of sheltering them. If they are all illegal settlers, the law will take its own course.”
He said, “We wanted to do it and we wanted to verify whether people (residing at Lum Survey) belong from India or maybe they are not, that still we can’t say much about it because the certification and verification is still on.”
“However, let us see as tomorrow the hearing (on the matter) will take place and maybe after that you will see exactly what is the next step to be taken not only by the state government but central government under the leadership of the Defence Estate Officer,” he added.
Tynsong also informed that he had asked the deputy commissioner, East Khasi Hills SC Sadhu to again call for a joint meeting since the place belongs to the Defence Estate Office, Guwahati and falls under the cantonment board area.
The deputy CM said that the HYC had carried out the eviction drive without consulting with the district administration thereby leading to a gross violation on that day.
“Well, we understand the sentiments of our young people no doubt about it. They have so much sentiment in a way they thought that demolition is such a simple issue. What happened was in fact at that point of time when these members of the HYC went over there, a gross violation happened why I am saying that this particular issue is still lying with the Meghalaya High Court and if tomorrow, the Court happens to go to the second hearing for this particular issue for eviction and dismantling of the illegal structures whatever available over there. So therefore, I would request to all concerns don’t take the law into your own hands as ultimately we will have lots of complications.”
Asked on the HYC’s action to apprehend drug users, the deputy CM said “When members of the society or whoever when they go and get those addicts it is different from when you go for those people who supply. From the government, we are more concerned about the suppliers as these are the people who ruin and spoil the lives of young people be it young girls or young boys or old. So the government does not sleep. Now we have already initiated DREAM to fight against drugs and it is on and I am very sure we will be able to strengthen this mission in the near future.”