194 Deported as Meghalaya Flags 628 Bangladeshi Nationals in Past Five Years

Meghalaya has reported the detection of 628 Bangladeshi nationals over the last five years, with 194 deported after legal proceedings, as stated by State Home Minister Prestone Tynsong in the Assembly. The identified individuals were spotted between 2021 and February this year, and deportations were executed following the completion of sentences and the acquisition of travel permits from the Bangladesh Embassy. To combat illegal infiltration, the government has enhanced its anti-infiltration strategies, establishing 18 check posts, gates, and customs stations at key locations along the inter-state and India-Bangladesh borders. Regular inspections and patrols are conducted by special squads in various districts. Furthermore, eleven district-level task forces have been created to identify illegal foreign nationals, while a state-level committee is designated to oversee their identification and deportation. The Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act, 2016, is operational in East Khasi Hills district. Authorities have urged citizens and organizations to cooperate lawfully to avoid misidentifying genuine Indian citizens as illegal migrants.