Raphael Warjri

The Meghalaya Government is reportedly working on introducing a new legislation to regulate the entry of individuals from outside the state, amid ongoing challenges in enforcing the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA).

Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma is said to have informed that the government was preparing a stronger legal mechanism to monitor the movement of people and address concerns related to internal security. The decision, he reportedly stated, was being considered in light of recent incidents in Assam and Bangladesh, which had raised questions about the safety and stability of the region.

According to the Chief Minister, the regulation of people entering and exiting the state had become a matter of serious concern, particularly when viewed against the backdrop of developments along the Assam-Meghalaya and India-Bangladesh borders. He reportedly maintained that in order to ensure peace and public safety, it was essential for the state to enact a more stringent law.

Sangma is also understood to have pointed out that the implementation of MRSSA had encountered several hurdles. Based on deliberations with the Law Department, discussions with cabinet colleagues and senior officials, the government had been exploring alternate legal avenues. He reportedly added that the government would soon hold consultations with various stakeholders and disseminate detailed information to the public before proceeding further.

The Chief Minister is further learnt to have informed that he had recently briefed the Union Home Minister on the prevailing situation along the state’s border areas, particularly those adjoining Assam and Bangladesh. He is said to have underlined the importance of having adequate internal safeguards, and while central agencies remained well-informed, he viewed it as his duty to update the Union Government on local developments and the steps being taken by the state to maintain law and order.