JNC demands Govt not to allow Meghalaya be turned into refugee camp for Bangladeshi

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaAugust 8, 2024

The Jaintia National Council (JNC) on Thursday demanded the state government to ensure that Meghalaya is not turned into a ‘refugee camp’ like in 1971 in view of the current situation in violence-hit Bangladesh.

In a memorandum submitted to the Deputy Chief Minister incharge Home Prestone Tynsong, the JNC outlined their concerns following an urgent meeting on August 6. The meeting was convened to discuss the present turmoil in Bangladesh due to the proximity of Meghalaya to the Indo-Bangladesh border.

“The meeting decided to put forward the following demand for immediate attention at your end. (We demand) the state government should instruct/direct the district administration to ensure that the international borders are well guarded at all times to ensure no infiltration of Bangladeshi to Meghalaya at any cost. The meeting decided that Meghalaya will not be allowed to be turned into a refugee camp like in the 1971 war,” they said.

They also demanded the state government should direct the district administration to ensure setting up a temporary police camp with deployment of sufficient armed police personnel along the Indo-Bangladesh border along with the central security forces in the border as to ensure no atrocities or any unwanted incident with the local indigenous people.

“The state government should direct the district administration for setting up a 24×7 helpline so that the people can report any information of infiltration of any incident in the international border areas,” they said.