Shillong: Home Minister Prestone Tynsong insists the 2016 Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act is active statewide. Reality tells a different story. The Umling check-gate remains incomplete five years after the government proposed security upgrades.
Tynsong dismissed criticism regarding the recently opened food court at the site. He claimed the facility exists only to provide amenities for travelers while they wait for verification. He maintains the state has not ditched plans for a full security outpost. Still, progress remains locked behind the 2019 amendment Bill. That legislation is stalled in bureaucratic limbo at the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
The Khasi Students’ Union says the government is stalling. They argue the original 2016 law provides enough power to lock down entry points without waiting for the pending amendments. KSU leaders remain unconvinced by the government line. They say the borders stay exposed.
Tynsong defended the state's current posture against migrant influx. He claimed District Task Forces led by Deputy Commissioners and Rangbah Shnongs are functioning across the region. The government offered no specific data on tenant registrations or enforcement numbers to prove these groups actually work. Tynsong stated, "The 2016 Act is being implemented across the state." Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma met with union heads to discuss these gaps, but the KSU continues to push for immediate, independent enforcement of the existing law.
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