Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Shillong: Meghalaya Opposition leader Dr. Mukul Sangma warned of militant groups attempting to regroup. He pushed for an urgent police overhaul during an October 28 meeting of the State Security Commission. Sangma wants the government to fill vacant police posts immediately. He insisted that appointments and transfers must remain free from political interference to maintain professional integrity. The force needs better operational capabilities to handle civil disturbances and mob violence.
Sangma also demanded strict enforcement of the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act of 2016 to stop illegal immigration. He pointed to the October 9 detention of 12 Bangladeshi nationals in Assam’s Goalpara district as evidence of failing border controls. One detainee claimed a middleman guided them through a forest route into India on October 6 before moving them through Meghalaya to Guwahati. Sangma called for tighter coordination between Assam and Meghalaya to secure the interstate boundary.
Border fencing remains a flashpoint. Sangma highlighted the struggle of landowners cut off from their property by fencing along the India-Bangladesh border. He argued the government must pursue relief or compensation for these residents. "Border management should not be confined to administrative measures and security arrangements alone, but must also account for the concerns of people living along the international boundary," Sangma stated.
The Opposition leader also pushed for a deep dive into alleged illegal coal mining. He cited discrepancies in official stock records, suggesting high-level patronage enables these unlawful operations. He demanded a thorough probe to identify those responsible for the coal irregularities. Local authorities must now verify his claims regarding the militant revival and the suspected coal trade.
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