Shillong: The Hynniewtrep Youths’ Council (HYC), a pressure group in Meghalaya, has expressed concern over the influx of ‘refugees’ from strife-torn Manipur into Meghalaya.
In a letter to the Deputy Commissioner of East Khasi Hills, HYC President Roy Kupar Synrem urged the administration to maintain proper records of the refugees and ensure their repatriation once the situation in Manipur normalizes.
“We are also concern of the prevailing situations in the State of Manipur which has been on the turmoil for the last 17 months. However, as an organisation we are also of the opinion that in the interest of our community, proper records of the movement of these refugees are maintained by the administration and the concerned authorities and as and when the situation in Manipur returns to normalcy, these Refugees be sent back accordingly,” it stated.
The HYC stated that while they empathize with the plight of the Manipur refugees, there is a need to be vigilant to prevent any potential security threats that might arise from the influx. The organization expressed fears that criminal elements might exploit the situation to engage in illegal activities.
“Some criminal elements may take advantage of the situation and make Shillong and Meghalaya as their safe haven for criminal activities, especially trafficking of drugs and other psychotropic substances if no proper records are kept of the movement of these people into the State,” HYC said.
The organisation has also raised concern about the increasing illegal activities, including drug trafficking and illegal immigration, in certain areas under the Shillong Cantonment Board.
It stated, “Some areas falling under the Shillong Cantonment Board have become a hub of illegal activities like supply and trafficking of illicit drugs in the city and also a safe haven for illegal immigrants into the State.”
HYC said that incidents like the recent arrest of drug dealer from the Cantonment area and the discovery of illegal settlements in Lum Survey highlight the gravity of the issue.
The absence of local traditional institutions’ authority over these areas has further compounded the problem, it said.
“It is also a cause of concern that there are some self-styled committees/Councils falling under the Cantonment Board who are issuing certificates, etc. to the people residing there for enrolment in the Electoral Roll and other purposes, which poses serious threat to the safety and security of the local indigenous community,” the organisation added.
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To address these concerns, the HYC stated that steps should be taken to regulate the movement of people into the Cantonment areas, to conduct the survey of all the residents under the Cantonment Board for proper records, to de-recognised all self-styled committees and councils and bestow powers to the local traditional institutions for the administration of such areas.
