HITO Demands ILP Implementation in Meghalaya

Shillong: The Hynniewtrep Integrated Territorial Organization (HITO), a prominent pressure group in Meghalaya, has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah urging the immediate extension of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) regime to cover the entire state. In a detailed memorandum, the organization expressed deep concern over what it described as escalating internal security threats, demographic imbalances, and increasing infiltration along the porous India-Bangladesh border. HITO stated that recent geopolitical shifts, including ceasefire developments along the India-Pakistan border, have had direct implications for northeastern states like Meghalaya. The group alleged that credible intelligence reports indicate a spike in infiltration attempts from Bangladesh, with possible logistical and financial backing from Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). It warned that the state could become a strategic target for sleeper cells and anti-national elements if left unguarded. The memorandum further claimed that illegal infiltrations into Meghalaya are being facilitated through monetary inducements and corruption at various levels. HITO raised alarm over the alleged use of fake Aadhaar and EPIC cards by infiltrators to gain access to government welfare schemes and integrate into the local population. The recent murder in Sohra, reportedly involving individuals from outside the state, was cited as an example of the dangers posed by unregulated movement and the absence of strict entry protocols. Describing the murder as “avoidable,” HITO emphasized that the issue is no longer confined to cultural preservation but has evolved into a matter of national security. The group strongly advocated for the implementation of the ILP under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation Act of 1873, arguing that Meghalaya should follow the lead of other northeastern states like Mizoram, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh, where the ILP is already enforced. In its appeal to the Home Minister, HITO urged the central government to take swift and decisive action in consultation with the state authorities and traditional institutions to protect the demographic composition and cultural identity of the indigenous people of Meghalaya. The letter concluded with an appeal to Amit Shah to uphold the constitutional responsibility of ensuring unity, integrity, and internal security across the region.