Staff Reporter

Shillong, April 29: Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Home (Police) Prestone Tynsong today confirmed there are no Pakistani nationals residing in the state of Meghalaya even as he assured that the government is closely monitoring the situation along the international border with Bangladesh.

Speaking to media persons, Tynsong said, “Right now, we don’t have any Pakistani civilians in Meghalaya.”

He informed that the government at the level of the chief secretary (CS) and director general of police (DGP) is in touch with central agencies like the border security forces (BSF).

“Right now, everything is in order. We are closely monitoring the situation on the international border with Bangladesh.”

Admitting that the situation is very fluid, Tynsong said clear instructions have been given to ensure no infiltrators get to enter the Indian Territory.

“Therefore, even from the government side, we have instructed all the traditional heads, village authorities to cooperate with the agencies so that we will be safe and no infiltrators should be allowed to enter the boundary of India.”

Stating that the arrest of Bangladeshi nationals from the different parts of the state is a matter of concern, the deputy CM said, “That’s what I am saying, we do have a very close meeting with the concerned agencies both state and central and we monitor 24x7 and incase if anything happen, we are ready to meet all those challenges.”

Meanwhile, Tynsong informed that the government is also trying its best to resolve the land issue along the unfenced portion of the international border.

“We have discussed this issue also. There were stretches which are yet to be resolved. The main issue is the land issue. The land owners and sometimes the village authorities are against it because if we go as per the plan, the fencing then the remaining portion of land will be outside the fencing and if it is outside the fencing it is more or less treated unofficially as no man's land,” he said.

“So therefore, we are still working out about this portion, where the challenges are and I am very sure, the concerned deputy commissioners are working out on this and they reach out to the landowners and village authorities to resolve this issue,” Tynsong added.

…