The Jaintia National Council (JNC) and the Jaintia Students Movement (JSM) on Thursday met with Deputy Chief Minister in charge of Home (Police), Prestone Tynsong, to voice their concerns regarding the security of the international border between Meghalaya and Bangladesh.
During the meeting, the two pressure groups urged the state government to take stringent measures to ensure that the border is effectively guarded to prevent any infiltration from Bangladesh.
The JNC and JSM emphasized the need for the government to instruct the respective district administrations to ensure that Meghalaya does not become a refugee camp, as it did during the 1971 war. They expressed their determination to avoid a repeat of such a situation.
In their memorandum to the state Government, the organizations also called for the establishment of a temporary police camp along the Indo-Bangladesh border. They requested the deployment of sufficient armed police personnel alongside central security forces to safeguard the local indigenous population from any potential atrocities or unwanted incidents.
Additionally, the JNC and JSM urged the government to direct the district administration to set up a 24×7 helpline. This helpline would allow residents in the international border areas to report any instances of infiltration or other incidents, thereby enhancing the security and safety of the region.