Police launch verification drive in Shillong

With Meghalaya sharing a boundary of more than 600 km with Assam and 443 km with Bangladesh, the police today undertook a massive verification drive of persons with doubtful antecedents.
In the drive, which commenced in the wee hours of the day, 684 persons were picked up from areas located along the Fourth Furlong and Pynthorbah near the Polo Grounds.
"684 persons were taken to the Sadar and Madanryting police stations for verification," East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police (SP) M Kharkrang told PTI here.
Of them, 596 were released after they produced valid documents, while the rest 88 were released with sureties, Kharkrang said.

These 88 persons would have to report before the Pasteur Beat House with valid documents, he said.
On the need for a sudden drive, the SP said, "This was done as a precaution against criminals and illegal foreign nationals from settling in parts of the city."

The National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is probing the Burdwan blast case in West Bengal, has indicated that it would investigate on the role of some elements in both Assam and Meghalaya.
Meanwhile, BSF troops today apprehended two Bangladeshi nationals identified as Abdul Sukur (40) and Kalain Miya (22) while they were trying to infiltrate into India at Kuliang border out-post in Meghalaya's East Jaintia Hills district.

One fake Indian voter ID and one PAN card were seized from them, a BSF officer said.