Pro-Inner Line Permit groups call bandh in Meghalaya

Life was hit by a 12-hour bandh in Meghalaya's Khasi Jaintia Hills called by pro-Inner Line Permit groups today.
Shops, business establishments, banks, private offices and educational institutions were closed while government offices recorded very thin attendance across seven districts in the region, official sources said.
Traffic remained off the roads in the city and on National Highways 40 and 44 leading to Assam's Barak Valley, Mizoram and Tripura, the sources said.
"Adequate security measures have been put in place to thwart any breach of law and order," East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner Sanjay Goyal said.
The bandh was called by 13 pressure groups led by the influential Khasi Students Union and the Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People besides 11 others demanding implementation of the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulations Act, 1873.

"The demand for implementation of the Inner Line Permit is the only way forward to check influx in the state. As long as the government is adamant on our demands, we will have to fight for our rights," FKJGP General Secretary W Rani said in a statement.
The state government, on the other hand, was firm on implementing the Tenancy Act with which it proposed to keep a check on floating population engaged in mining and construction work in Meghalaya.