Shillong, Aug 21: Villagers living along the Indo-Bangladesh border in South West Khasi Hills have raised concerns that collapsed and damaged fencing is being exploited by Bangladeshi nationals to infiltrate into Meghalaya territory.
Residents of Khonjoy B, Rangdongai and Maheshkhola villages shared their concerns with a three-member delegation that visited the area on Thursday following a recent attack on a villager by suspected infiltrators.
The team — comprising Mendipathar MLA and Power Department adviser Marthon J Sangma, former Mawsynram MLA and Education Department adviser Himalaya Shangpliang, and vice chairman Kitboklang Nongrem — was dispatched by Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Home Prestone Tynsong to assess the situation.
According to the delegation, villagers reported that stretches of the border fencing had collapsed or been damaged, particularly in areas located far from Border Out Posts (BOPs). The gaps, they said, were creating opportunities for cross-border infiltration.
While expressing faith in the round-the-clock patrols conducted by the Border Security Force (BSF) and state police, villagers urged the government to urgently repair the damaged fencing. Residents of Maheshkhola in particular voiced fears that the porous border posed risks to the safety of women and children.
Himalaya Shangpliang, a member of the visiting team, assured that a detailed report of the findings would soon be submitted to the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister for necessary action.
He underlined that illegal infiltration remains a serious security challenge for border communities and requires urgent intervention.
Meanwhile, the Superintendent of Police (SP) of South West Khasi Hills, B. Jyrwa, has sought additional deployment of forces in the affected areas to strengthen security.
