All outsiders will have to register with government before entering Meghalaya

The Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government on Friday approved the amendment of the Meghalaya Residents, Safety and Security Act (MRSSA), 2016 in the form of an ordinance to register outsiders entering the state.

Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said, “The cabinet has approved the amended Act in the form of an ordinance and it will come into force with immediate effect.”

Prestone Tynsong further said, "The ordinance will be regularized in the next session of the state Assembly.”

The cabinet has taken the decision after holding series of meetings with the different stakeholders including political parties and NGOs of the state.

“Any person, who is not a resident of Meghalaya and wants to stay in the state more than 24 hours will have to register with the state government. The Act is for the people who are interested to visit the state as tourists, labourers, education, business and other purposes,” the Meghalaya Deputy CM said.

The ordinance will bring into effect as Inner Line Permit (ILP).

The Inner Line Permit systems are now operational in Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Mizoram for the outsiders to enter in the state.

In case of violation of the Act, the offender will be liable to be punished under the Section 176 or 177 of IPC.

The previous Congress-led government had passed the Meghalaya Residents, Safety and Security Act (MRSSA), 2016 to check the influx and illegal migrants and protect indigenous people of the state, but not able to implement the Inner Line Permit.

(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath, Guwahati)