Meghalaya restricts movement along India-Bangladesh border in East Jaintia Hills district

Shillong, Feb 7    Apprehending the movement of terrorists and Rohingiya, the district administration in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills district has clamped Section 144 of the CrPC in areas along the India-Bangladesh border, an official said on Wednesday.
The prohibitory order was also imposed to check rising cases of smuggling along the international border.
The order prohibits the movement of people at the international border with the intention to cross the international boundary in Bangladesh or sneak into Indian territory. It also prohibits the movement of persons on foot or vehicles or carriages in public under 5 km of the border belt from 6 pm to 5 am.
“Whereas, members of various terrorist outfits and Rohingyas may also try to sneak into Indian Territory during night hours, which may adversely affect the security of the state,” A. Baranwal, the district magistrate of East Jaintia Hills, said.
Baranwal said that there had been a recent brutal murder of a person residing in Umkiang village by Bangladeshi nationals who had trespassed the Indian border.
Stating that the BSF is mandated to prevent trans-border crime, including smuggling and any other illegal activities on the India-Bangladesh border, the magistrate said that the BSF had informed them that the area was highly prone to smuggling of cattle, contraband goods, and other items such as betel nuts, dry fish, biri, cigarettes, tea leaves, and other items.
"Whereas, reports have been received from BSF that the smugglers and other anti-national elements gather in large numbers near the International Border during the night hours to smuggle the aforesaid goods from India to Bangladesh and vice versa.
"Whereas, I am of the opinion that such illegal, undesirable activities should be prevented in order to maintain peace and tranquility in the district,” the magistrate said.