Meghalaya orders crackdown on illegal B'deshis & Rohingya
The directive follows the Union ministry of home affairs' (MHA) recent order instructing all states and union territories to form special task forces in every district to detect and deport illegal migrants within 30 days.
Deputy CM Prestone Tynsong confirmed that district task forces (DTFs), established under the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA), 2016, are already operational. He emphasised that strict enforcement of the Foreigners' Act is underway, with deputy commissioners instructed to act immediately on any credible intelligence regarding illegal immigrants.
"As far as illegal foreigners are concerned, we have already directed all DCs to crackdown and put this on priority basis.
The (Foreigners') Act is being followed strictly," he said.
Meghalaya shares a 443-km international border with Bangladesh, raising concerns over increasing illegal migration into the state. Authorities have assured that all legal protocols for identification and deportation will be followed rigorously.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
7 minutes ago
- The Hindu
No resumption of MGNREGA work in West Bengal despite HC order says PBKMS
Despite an order by the Calcutta High Court, to resume MGNREGA in West Bengal from August 1, there has been no resumption of 100 days work, Paschim Banga Khet Majoor Samity, a union of agricultural workers, said on Friday (August 1, 2025). Hearing a petition of PBKMS a division bench of the Calcutta High Court headed by T.S. Sivagnanam on June 18 directed the resumption of the scheme from August 1 'Yet, even after this landmark victory for rural workers, both the Central and State governments have chosen to brazenly defy the Court's order. Instead of preparing for the resumption of work, block offices in multiple districts are refusing to even accept job applications. This is a deliberate attack on the right to work of the state's poorest,' a press statement by PBKMS said. The union also added that job applications by people made under MGNREGA have been rejected. 'In just four days, between 28th and 31st July 2025, 2,092 job applications were submitted across block offices in Purulia, South 24 Parganas, and North 24 Parganas districts. Meanwhile, job applications from 1,349 workers were illegally rejected in 9 block offices across 7 districts,' the union said. A representative of PBKMS said that when they contacted the NREGA Commissioner, he clearly stated that no work will begin unless the Central Government issues fresh instructions - a position that clearly undermines the authority of the Calcutta High Court. Alleging willful inaction by both the governments, the union stated that the Central Government is equally guilty and by hiding behind Section 27 of the MGNREGA Act, 'it continues to block the release of funds and work, systematically depriving Bengal's workers of their legal right to employment'. The workers union also claimed that in Nadia district's Krishnagar-II block, when a member of the union accompanied workers to submit job applications, the BDO and several panchayat pradhans responded with abuse and threats, calling him a 'Bangladeshi' and threatening him with arrest and punitive action. Demanding the immediate implementation of MGNREGA work in West Bengal, as per the High Court order, the PBKMS stated that this blatant 'non-compliance with a High Court order is illegal, unjust, and unacceptable and it continue our struggle for the right to work in every village and every district'. Before the Lok Sabha polls in 2024, the Trinamool Congress along with MGNREGA workers held protests in Delhi demanding payment of wages and resumption of work. However, West Bengal's ruling party response to the High Court order has been lukewarm. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has said her government has started Karmashree Prakalpa to provide at least 50 days of wage employment to each Job Card holder household in a financial year. The scheme, however, is not visible at the grass roots level .Work under MGNREGA had stopped in the State since December 2021 which has resulted in widespread rural distress and migration.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Shah to visit Assam on Aug 29, join land protection drive & unveil new Raj Bhavan
1 2 Guwahati: Ahead of the assembly election early next year, Union home minister Amit Shah will join the state in its drive to protect its lands from encroachers here on Aug 29. Shah, who is also the cooperation minister, will address the panchayat members from NDA on the state govt's plan to form cooperatives in every panchayat. These cooperatives will use the vacant govt land on lease for cultivation and farming so that no encroachment on any vacant govt land can take place. Large swathes of forest lands in the state, illegally occupied by Bangladesh-origin Muslim people, are being cleared by the state govt. CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, while addressing a press conference here on Friday, said, "The Union home minister will first inaugurate the newly constructed Raj Bhavan on Aug 29, which I think will be the best Raj Bhavan in the country. Thereafter, he will address a convention of the newly elected panchayat members of BJP and its ally Asom Gana Parishad." He further said the state govt is planning to form cooperative societies in every panchayat. "The responsibility of the cooperative societies will be to use the vacant govt land for agriculture, farming, or dairy. We want to inspire the panchayat members to use the vacant govt land for agriculture so that no encroachment can take place," he added. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Indian NRIs Are Getting Eligible For INR 2 Lakh Monthly Pension On Retirement. Invest 18K/M Get Offer Undo He said the vacant govt land will be given to the cooperative societies on lease. "Since Shah is also the cooperation minister, he will also address the panchayat members on this," he added. In the evening, Shah will attend the birth centenary of Assam's first non-Congress CM Golap Borbora. He will then return to Delhi. Borbora was arrested in 1975 during the Emergency for opposing the then Indira Gandhi govt and he spent 18 months in Tihar jail. He became the state unit president of the Janata Party in 1977 after his release from Tihar jail and led the party to victory with 53 seats. He was unanimously elected the first non-Congress chief minister of Assam in 1978, but his govt lasted for only 18 months. He was also a Rajya Sabha member from 1968 to 1974.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Debt-ridden Himachal turns to lottery to make a quick buck
Kullu: Cash-strapped Himachal Pradesh is trying its luck with lottery to turn its fortunes. The cabinet has allowed lottery operations that were shut down in 1999. Burdened by a Rs 1 lakh-crore debt, it hopes to make a modest Rs 50 to Rs 100 crore annually from sale of lottery tickets. The decision to reintroduce lottery in the mountain state after over a quarter century was taken in a cabinet meeting on July 31. The recommendation came from a cabinet sub-committee set up to give suggestions to boost state revenue. It seems to be inspired by other states that run lotteries. Neighbouring Punjab earned Rs 235 crore through sale of lottery tickets during the 2024-25 fiscal, while the tiny state of Sikkim made Rs 30 crore during the same period. Kerala tops the list — the southern state earned a jaw-dropping Rs 13,582 crore last financial year. Himachal, which is finding it difficult to meet the expenses of rebuilding the damage caused by this year's landslides and flash floods, hopes to mop up some much-needed funds this way. "Many states earn through lotteries. You will be surprised to know how much Kerala earns. Himachal Pradesh govt has decided to restart the lottery system in the state after a recommendation was made by a Cabinet sub-committee," said industries minister Harshwardhan Chauhan. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like NRIs Living In Greece Are Eligible For INR 2 Lakh Monthly Pension. Invest 18K/Month Get Offer Undo "We will follow the tender process to run the lotteries in Himachal Pradesh just as other states do," added Chauhan. The decision to reintroduce lotteries in Himachal has come at a time when the state's debt stands at a back-breaking Rs 1,04,729 crore, and the per capita debt has reached Rs 1.17 lakh per head, the second highest after Arunachal Pradesh. To make the financial situation even worse, the revenue deficit grant (RDF), financial assistance from the Centre, has come down from Rs 6,258 crore in 2024 to Rs 3,257 crore in 2025, and the GST compensation has been stopped by the Union govt. Govt is expected to introduce the bill on lotteries in the monsoon session of assembly, beginning Aug 18. Himachal Pradesh had banned lotteries, both state-run and from outside the state, in 1999 under Sections 7, 8 & 9 of the Lotteries (Regulation) Act, 1998, during the tenure of chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal. The lottery decision has not gone down well with opposition BJP. Former CM and Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur criticised the move, saying: "Lotteries were prohibited because they ruined families, homes were auctioned, and people were driven to suicide." Lotteries are legal in 13 states — Punjab, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Goa, West Bengal, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, and Assam. MSID:: 123044952 413 |
