Shillong: The Khasi Students’ Union is fighting the Meghalaya government’s plan to flip the Umling Facilitation Centre into a commercial food court. The site was built to screen travelers entering the state. KSU leaders argue that turning a security checkpoint into a dining stop for brands like KFC and Subway makes a mockery of the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act of 2016.
KSU general secretary Ruben Najiar said his group welcomes new business. They just want the border site kept for its original goal. The facility was designed to act as an entry and exit gate to help track the influx of outsiders. Najiar noted that the government rushed to change the law in 2019 without testing the 2016 original. He claims this move crippled their protection efforts.
“The unfortunate part is that the government amended the MRSSA in 2019 even before the 2016 Act was properly implemented and assessed,” Najiar said. He pointed out that the government let the facility sit idle after a High Court stay instead of fighting to keep it running. Now, the state faces scrutiny for turning its back on border security.
The union insists the center is needed now more than ever. It could block drug trafficking and illegal movement. KSU members are calling for immediate action to enforce existing laws rather than selling off infrastructure. They want the government to quit talking and finally protect the indigenous population.
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