TURA: It is now clear that illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators are behind the communal clash which shattered the beautiful Garo Hills districts of Meghalaya last week.
In a major development amid escalating tensions in the Garo Hills region, Meghalaya Police arrested former Member of District Council (MDC) Sofiur Rehman from Balachanda constituency early in the morning on March 16. The arrest, confirmed by West Garo Hills SP, stems from allegations of inciting communal disharmony and violence.
Rehman, a former Member of the District Council (MDC), was picked up around 1 a.m. from his residence in New Bhaitbari, under the jurisdiction of Rajabala Police Station in West Garo Hills. Authorities invoked sections related to incitement to violence and communal discord, linking him to the recent flare-up of unrest in the area.
The arrest comes against the backdrop of heightened communal friction in Garo Hills, where local tribal communities have raised alarms over demographic shifts and electoral encroachments.
BJP points finger at illegal infiltration
BJP also termed the violence as an issue created by infiltrators. Illegal Bangladeshi intruders marrying local tribal girls, obtaining forged documents, and committing electoral encroachment have become a major threat to the locals.
Senior BJP leader and Lok Sabha MP Ravi Shankar Prasad sharply criticised the situation, attributing the violence to unchecked illegal infiltration from Bangladesh. Speaking at a press conference at the BJP’s central office in New Delhi, Prasad reaffirmed the party’s solidarity with Garo Hills’ tribal communities.
“The root cause is Bangladeshi infiltrators attempting to infiltrate tribal society, contest GHADC elections, and erode constitutional safeguards,” Prasad said. The Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) reserves administrative powers exclusively for tribal members, making such bids highly contentious.
Prasad highlighted how infiltrators allegedly alter the region’s demographic balance, threatening tribal land rights and political representation. He cited the controversy around former Phulbari MLA S.G. Esmatur Momin, whose nomination for GHADC polls drew fierce tribal opposition.
In a pointed accusation, Prasad claimed some infiltrators resort to marrying local tribal women to secure fraudulent certificates, enabling them to contest autonomous council elections.The BJP leader vowed unwavering support for the protection of tribal constitutional rights amid the brewing crisis.
Local tensions remain high as investigations continue, with authorities urging calm while probing the violence’s triggers.
