Shillong, July 4: The Hynniewtrep Integrated Territorial Organization (HITO) has urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to ensure the immediate extension of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system to the whole of Meghalaya.
In its representation today, the organization stated that the ILP mechanism would play a vital role in enhancing border security by regulating unchecked entry, safeguarding indigenous communities, and maintaining demographic stability. HITO further argued that implementation of ILP would help detect and deter the entry of anti-national elements and sleeper cells, thereby reinforcing national efforts to combat cross-border terrorism and infiltration.
“The need for implementing ILP in Meghalaya is no longer a matter of cultural protection alone but has become a strategic necessity in the interest of national security,” the letter stated. It appealed to the Home Minister to expedite the extension of the ILP regime in close coordination with the state government and traditional institutions.
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Referring to recent developments along the western front, HITO said that the ceasefire between India and Pakistan has again underlined the need for enhanced internal security in sensitive border areas, including the North East.
The organization expressed concern over what it described as credible intelligence regarding increased infiltration along the India-Bangladesh border, including in Meghalaya. It pointed to reports of a strategic base allegedly established by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in Bangladesh as a growing threat to national security.
HITO further claimed that the surge in illegal infiltrations into Meghalaya, reportedly facilitated through financial inducements, poses a grave risk to both sovereignty and internal peace. These activities, the group said, may serve as conduits for sleeper cells and other destabilizing elements.
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The organization also highlighted the growing misuse of fraudulent documents, such as fake Aadhaar and electoral identity cards, by infiltrators seeking access to welfare schemes and blending into the local population. It described this as a major security vulnerability requiring urgent government intervention.
Citing a recent murder in Sohra allegedly involving individuals from outside the region, particularly from Madhya Pradesh, HITO said the incident underscored the urgent need for stronger regulatory frameworks. It argued that the tragedy might have been avoided had an effective permit system been in place.
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Reiterating its appeal, HITO called for the immediate and full implementation of the ILP system across Meghalaya. It noted that the ILP, enforced under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation Act of 1873, has proven to be an effective constitutional safeguard in other Northeastern states, helping preserve cultural identity and prevent demographic imbalance.
(Newmai News Network)
