Meghalaya: East Khasi Hills enforces night curfew along Bangladesh border amid security concerns

Guwahati: The East Khasi Hills district administration has enforced a night curfew along the Meghalaya–Bangladesh border due to rising security concerns linked to the situation in Bangladesh and the vulnerability of several stretches of the frontier.

In an order issued on Tuesday, District Magistrate Rosetta Mary Kurbah said the tense situation across the border has increased the chances of movement by militant groups, smugglers, and others involved in illegal activities.

She noted that some parts of the border remain porous, allowing illegal migrants and individuals connected to organised crime and insurgent groups to slip through, especially at night.

The order warned that unchecked activities could lead to large-scale infiltration and disturb peace in the district.

Using powers under Section 163 of the BNSS, the District Magistrate imposed a night curfew from 8 pm to 6 am within one kilometre of the Zero Line.

The curfew takes effect immediately and bans attempts to cross the international border, unlawful gatherings of five or more people carrying weapons or objects that can be used as weapons, and activities such as smuggling cattle, contraband, betel nut, betel leaves, dry fish, bidis, cigarettes, and tea leaves.

The order was issued ex parte due to urgency and will remain in force for two months unless changed earlier.

The state government also tried to reassure the public on Tuesday, stating that it remains alert to infiltration issues.

Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar stated that the government is continually working to prevent illegal immigration, and that teams from departments such as Labour and Tourism are conducting inspections in areas like Umling. He said ground surveillance remains steady.

On reports of raids in South Garo Hills following the recent blast in Delhi, Dhar said such matters fall under the Home Department.

Regarding demands for implementing the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act and the Inner Line Permit, he said Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma has been regularly meeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Both leaders also met the Governor last month to discuss related concerns, he added.

Dhar’s comments came after the North East Students’ Organisation (NESO) accused the Meghalaya government and the autonomous district councils of failing to act against infiltration, even as Assam steps up eviction drives that push suspected infiltrators toward Meghalaya.

NESO chairman Samuel B. Jyrwa said repeated warnings from NESO and the Khasi Students’ Union were ignored and claimed that, despite clear instructions from the Union Home Ministry, Meghalaya has shown little progress on the ground.

The Confederation of Meghalaya Social Organisations (CoMSO) also raised an alarm, saying that voter roll revisions in West Bengal and scrutiny drives in Assam are forcing illegal migrants into Meghalaya.

CoMSO chairman Roy Kupar Synrem warned that the unchecked influx threatens the state’s security, public order, and citizens’ rights.

CoMSO called for urgent measures, including restrictions on entry from affected states until verification is complete, mandatory registration and identity checks for all arrivals from West Bengal and Assam, and deployment of police and district officials at key entry points to enforce these steps.