Donkupar raises issue of B'deshi attack

FROM A CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG, March 25: Opposition leader Dr Donkupar Roy today took up the issue of attack and burning down of crops at Nongtrai village, in East Khasi hills district by Bangladeshi miscreants.

Moving a call attention motion Dr Roy said that if the BSF cannot protect the villagers then the locals can defend themselves and if necessary take up guns.

He also refuted the claim of the BSF that the crops had burnt down due to the practice of jhum cultivation by the villagers.

“In my area there is no jhum cultivation. The crops grown are areca nuts and citrus fruits,” Dr Roy said.

The Opposition Leader also lamented that despite such incidents occurring frequently, the BSF did not intensify patrolling even after the IG BSF was informed.

Dr Roy also urged the government to assist the locals whose crops were destroyed with fincial help and also to aid in replanting the damaged crops.

Home Minister Dr Roshan Warjri in her reply said that the state government has ordered an inquiry into the incident and it will wait for the report and a follow up action will be taken up based on it.

Warjri also informed the house that the IG of BSF was also informed about the incident.

Warjri also informed that meetings of the District Magistrates and Deputy Commissioners of Bangladesh and Meghalaya are being held periodically and the recent meeting was held from January 11 to 13, 2015. According to Warjri, the state government encourages such meetings since such initiatives will go a long way in dealing with such incidents.