Shillong, July 18: The Meghalaya government is actively exploring legal measures to strengthen its ability to curb the infiltration of undocumented immigrants from Bangladesh, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said on Friday.
“We are seriously thinking of introducing, or strengthening and revisiting, the existing Act—like the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA)—or even coming up with a new proposed Act. That is a subject the government is still deliberating on,” Tynsong said.
He stressed the urgency of having a state-level legal mechanism to complement central laws such as the Infiltration and Deportation Act, which are enforced by central agencies.
“I think it is important and very urgent. We need to have some kind of mechanism in the state—not just depend on central laws, but also have state laws through which we can plug the loopholes wherever necessary,” he added.
Meghalaya shares a 443-km-long international border with Bangladesh, much of it porous and difficult to monitor, Tynsong noted.
When asked about the role of the state government—especially since most interceptions are carried out by pressure groups and the Border Security Force (BSF)—Tynsong explained that once infiltrators are apprehended, existing central laws take over.
“Sometimes the BSF can nab them, and sometimes it’s the police. Once they are arrested, central laws apply, and deportation has to be carried out according to the relevant Acts and rules,” he said.
Pressed for specific data, he admitted that he did not have figures at hand but assured that the government is actively working to address the problem.
Tynsong also pointed out that the issue of infiltration is not unique to Meghalaya.
“Infiltration from Bangladesh is not taking place only through Meghalaya, but also through several other states like West Bengal, Assam, and others,” he said.
Also Read: Special Task Force to tackle illegal immigration in West Tripura
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