Shillong, Jan 28: The state BJP has appealed to the central government to take note of the alleged ISIS-K-signed poster incident in West Garo Hills and has also assured that the nation’s security forces are capable of handling such threats.
State BJP general secretary Wankitbok Pohshna on Wednesday said, “The state unit of the BJP also asks the Central Government to take note and would like to assure every citizen of Meghalaya that the nation’s security forces are perfectly capable of crushing any misadventure by such groups,” Pohshna said while adding “The rise of Jihadi activities have long been a cause for concern and the problem has been compounded by vested interests, where illegal immigrants have been given a free passage and safe haven in our lands for the sake of electoral gains, Congress being the main architect of this design for over half a century.”
Condemning the incident, Poshna said the party wants the state government to take “swift, exemplary action and asks every citizen of the state to remain vigilant and thwart the evil designs of criminals from across the border.”
“The party has always stood as a bulwark to this influx of illegals and various mechanisms such as SIR are already being used to identify and rid our lands of foreign immigrants. The party in Meghalaya stands committed to this cause and vows to fight on till the last illegal settler has been identified and evicted,” he added.
He also said that the state BJP believes that this is a warning not only to our Garo brethren but to us, the Khasi and Jaintias too, and the entire state must rally to protect every citizen.
“While the source may not be known yet, though we are certain that the criminals will be apprehended soon, the message in itself carries a deep and disturbing thought process that affects the indigenous people’s lives directly. This message gives a clear intention of the conspirators to radicalise youths to wipe out the state’s indigenous inhabitants and replace them with Jamat followers from across the border. This must never be allowed to happen.”
Further, the BJP has also called upon citizens to unite and present a unified front against this threat, emphasizing that such attempts to radicalize youths and displace indigenous people will not be tolerated.
Bernard demands SIT probe
Meanwhile, BJP MDC from Tura Bernard N Marak has written to the state Director General of Police (DGP) Iadashisha Nongrang, requesting registration of an FIR and immediate action.
In the letter submitted on Wednesday, Marak highlights the poster claims certain towns as Garo land with a dateline till 2027. He notes fanatics from plain areas have challenged Garos’ ownership of Garo Hills and mentions an earlier FIR filed against Sofior Rehman under the Prevention of Atrocities (SC/ST) Act.
Marak also raised concerns about unconstitutional issuance of pattas in Garo Hills and said, “…the plain settlers are asserting claims over Garo Hills by relying on pattas issued under the Assam Schedule within Sixth Schedule areas. These pattas have been issued without constitutional sanction, legal notification or approval by the Governor. Unlike Khasi and Jaintia Hills, Garo Hills is burdened with two overlapping Schedules (Assam Schedule over Sixth Schedule). The Sixth Schedule institutions, which were constitutionally mandated to safegard tribal rights, are instead issuing pattas under the General Schedule (Assam Schedule). This constitutional violation has created the misconception that lands under Non-Hill Mauzas (Mauza 5,6,7,8,9,10) are not tribal lands, despite the fact that only 4 Hill Mauzas and 4 Hill Mauzadars exist under GHADC. The functioning of Non-Hill Mauzas without Mauzadars or constitutional sanction is a serious anomaly.”
The BJP MDC also referred to the recent incident at Rajabala Police Station involving a murdered civil society group member, suggesting possible links to ISIS-K or local miscreants.
“The identity of those who fired and their motives remain unclear. Such acts demand thorough investigation by a special investigation team (SIT), as the perpetrators may be linked to ISIS-K or may be local miscreants with ulterior motives aimed at instigating communal conflict,” he said.
“In light of this, I humbly request you to register this case under appropriate section of law, constitute a special investigation team (SIT) to conduct thorough inquiry, ensure that the culprits are apprehended and prosecuted without delaly, verify and book those, who has adopted unconstitutional provisions and are issuing pattas without legal mandate, Governor’s approval and constitutional provision,” Marak stated in the letter.
