Ampati, Nov 12: A few pockets of West Garo Hills have emerged as exfiltration route of Bangladeshis.
This was informed by Superintendent of Police Vikash Varma, who interacted with a group of journalists from Shillong here during a press tour organised by the Directorate of Information and Public Relations.
Varma said the cases involving Bangladeshi nationals attempting to return to their country through Meghalaya have emerged as a concern.
In a recent operation in the Zikzak area, police arrested seven persons, including six Bangladeshi nationals. The six Bangladeshi nationals were said to have been residing in different parts of India, including Delhi, Bengaluru and Surat, before attempting to cross into Bangladesh through Meghalaya.
He said the district shares an international border with Bangladesh and an interstate border with Assam. Although the situation along both borders remains peaceful, the police remain vigilant against infiltration, cross-border movement and other security concerns.
The SP said the overall law and order situation in South West Garo Hills remains peaceful, although the police continue to monitor cross-border movement, drug-related activities and offences against women and children.x
On drug-related activities, he said South West Garo Hills is not a major commercial transit route for narcotics, with most reported cases involving small-scale peddling. He informed that police recently arrested two persons under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and recovered 2,000 Yaba tablets.
Regarding crimes against women and children, the SP said cases under the POCSO Act, including those involving teenage pregnancies and the sexual assault of minors, continue to be reported in the district. He stressed the need for greater awareness of the Act, particularly among students and educational institutions.
He added that police regularly organise awareness programmes in schools, colleges and market areas on cybercrime, drug abuse, the POCSO Act and the NDPS Act.
Varma pointed out that there have been no militancy-related incidents or indications of a revival of militant groups in the district, maintaining that the overall security situation remains under control.
