Meghalaya on alert after release of first NRC draft list in Assam

The state administration is worried that the exclusion of 4 million people from the NRC draft list in Assam could lead to a law-and-order problem.

The Meghalaya government on Monday held a security review following the release of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) draft in neighbouring Assam, fearing that those whose names were not in the draft may enter the state, which unlike many other north-eastern states, does not restrict the entry of ‘outsiders’.

People wait to check their names on the final draft of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) after it was released, at NRC Seva Kendra, Goroimari in Kamrup district of Assam on July 30, 2018. (PTI)

The security arrangements were reviewed by chief secretary Y Tshering in a meeting attended by director general of police (DGP) Swaraj Bir Singh, additional chief secretary in-charge (home) Peter W Ingti, and commissioner and secretary (home) S Kharlyngdoh.

The state administration is worried that the exclusion of 4 million people from the NRC draft list in Assam could lead to a law-and-order problem, especially in the plain belt of the Garo hills, which has a sizeable mixed population.

“I can tell you that we are on a tight vigil and action will be taken on any trouble mongers or alleged infiltrators,” said DGP Singh.

“The superintendents of police (SPs) of the bordering districts of Meghalaya have been liaisoning with their Assam counterparts to thwart any unwanted incident,” Singh added.