SHILLONG, APR 2: Meghalaya government ordered a magisterial inquiry to verify the antecedents of the alleged Bangladesh families residing in Lyngkhat village under Pynursla block in East Khasi hills district.
East Khasi hills deputy commissioner Sanjay Goyal told reporters during a media conference on Thursday, “A magisterial inquiry to verify the antecedents of the families who are alleged to have been from Bangladesh and residing in Lyngkhat village have been constituted.”
The decision came after the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) had alleged that the district administration issued notice to eight non-indigenous persons from Lyngkhat to appear before during a hearing for voter’s enrollment proposed to be held on Thursday, but was cancelled after opposition from the ngos.
According to the Goyal, the inquiry was also constituted after reports in the media appeared saying that these families are not citizens of the country. He informed that the magisterial inquiry will be headed by Additional District Magistrate (ADM) I Majaw.
Stating there is no specific time frame for the completion of the report, Goyal however said, “The magistrate is directed to submit her report at the earliest.”
The KSU has alleged that the applications for voter’s enrollment of these eight persons were rejected twice in 2012 and 2013 and they are suspected to be from Bangladesh. However, union members said that they were allowed to reside in the village in order to help Khasi villagers to communicate with Bangladeshi people for business transaction.
Goyal, however, wondered if these families are not Indian citizens then why are they in Meghalaya and questioned the purpose of their staying.
Meanwhile, the district administration maintained that appropriate action will be taken if findings indicate that these families are not Indian citizens.
“Goyal said, “ As per law of the land, appropriate action will be taken if it is established that they are not from this country and decision in this regard will be taken after the report is completed.”
The district administration has also cancelled the hearing for the eight people slated to be held on Friday.
Goyal said the eight people had filed a complaint that they have not been heard properly in the earlier hearing and were rejected. According to him, the ERO have decided to hold the hearing in the state’s capital to give them the opportunity to be heard.
Goyal also questioned as to why are we so afraid of the hearing and said, “The hearing is not always the final hearing.” He asserted that there is provision that the ERO even after the hearing can refers the matter to the police for verification and conduct a spot inspection.
Stating nobody will take up this sensitive exercise in a casual approach, Goyal said, “If somebody goes to the court for the wrongful inclusion then the concerned officer would be held responsible.”
Referring to reports that these eight people have been denied getting themselves enrolled on two occasions, Goyal said, “This itself proves that what we are doing is right and that we are vigil. Under the law, we can stop anyone from applying.”
Goyal further added, “Application itself should not lead to fear that they will be included. So the disposal of the application is more important than the application.”- By Our Reporter
+ There are no comments
Add yours