SHILLONG, Aug 3 - The NPP-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance Government was once again caught napping as Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) members stormed into the premises of Meghalaya Secretariat this morning.
The HYC members entered the Main Secretariat at about 10.30 am and started shouting slogans demanding implementation of Inner Line Permit (ILP) and also National Register of Citizens (NRC).
This is the second time that security was breached in the high-security Government building in less than two months. On June 4, a group of hawkers entered the premises of Main Secretariat after breaking the lock of the entrance gate and shouted slogans.
HYC general secretary, Roy Kupar Synrem said that the idea behind entering the high-security premise was �to wake up the State Government from its sleep.� Synrem said that they had submitted a list of demands but the government hasn�t responded to its demands.
The HYC has rejected the State Government�s proposal to build entry and exit points in the State to check influx. �We strongly believe that the implementation of the Inner Line Permit is the only way to curb influx into Meghalaya,� Synrem said.
He said that the entry and exit points aren�t a fool-proof mechanism to stop influx. �At the entry-exit points, EPIC would be one of the identify proofs, but we have seen in Assam that people possessing EPICs didn�t find their names in the NRC,� he said. The HYC general secretary, however, observed that there is a clear possibility that those not finding their names in the NRC in Assam may try to enter into Meghalaya.
Meanwhile, East Khasi Hill Superintendent of Police, Davis R Marak acknowledged about the intelligence failure. However, he claimed it wasn�t a security breach.
�They didn�t enter the building, so I think there was no security breach,� the SP claimed. �I did not get any inputs about the congregation planned by HYC activists. I got the information only after these people have congregated,� Marak said.
He said, even the security personnel at the main gate of the Secretariat couldn�t identify the intruders as they congregated in ones and twos inside the premises. �Once there were sufficient members inside the premises they started shouting slogans and also displayed placards. They entered like ordinary employees of the Secretariat and didn�t come in a group,� Marak said about how the security was foxed.
Following the incident, the SP has sought from the district administration to clamp Section 144 CrPC around the Secretariat.
