KSU activists, traditional heads stage protest march demanding removal of BSF camp at Sonapyrdi

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaApril 26, 2024

Activists of the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) along with the traditional heads and residents of villages along the international border in East Jaintia Hills district on Friday took out a protest march against the recent physical assault on local people by the Border Security Force (BSF) personnel at Sonapyrdi.

The protest march to Sonapyrdi was jointly organized by the KSU Narpuh Circle and East Jaintia Hills District Unit and supported by traditional heads and villagers from Hingaria, Umstein, Sonapyrdi and other villages along the international border.

Protesters were carrying placards which read – “We will not tolerate oppression and tyranny in any form”, “we strongly condemn the arrogance and abuse of power exhibited by the BSF at Sonapyrdi”, “Govt should immediately remove BSF personnel”.

Speaking at the meeting, KSU leader KS Suchiang said, “We demand the state government to immediately remove the BSF personnel deployed at Sonapyrdi or it should be ready to face the consequences because the BSF has been a major inconvenience to the local people of the area. Instead of being protectors, they (BSF) are harassing the local people for no reasons.”

“We have from time to time written to the district administration as well as the state government to remove the BSF personnel from Sonapyrdi but both have turned a deaf ear by  allowing to the BSF to continue to harassing local people of Narpuh area and villages along the border,” he said.

He also slammed the BSF for failing to prevent heinous crimes committed by Bangladeshi nationals along the Indo-Bangla border. “What have the BSF done to protect the villagers? What action have they taken against the murder of a woman at Donaskur and the murder of Sylvanus Dhar? Therefore, it is better for them to be stationed at the border and not in villages which are far away from the border,” Suchiang said.

Expressing similar concerns, headman of Sonapyrdi E Lamare has questioned as to who has given authority to the BSF to set up a camp at Sonapyrdi without the consent of the dorbar shnong.

“We demand the state government to direct the BSF to immediately remove its camp by tomorrow,” he said. He said the BSF is no longer allowed to abuse its power and that such atrocities on local people should immediately stop.