A 24-hour Meghalaya bandh has been called on Thursday by pro-inner line activists to press for implementation of ILP to curb influx of outsiders to the north eastern state.
"We demand that the government implement inner line permit (ILP) in the state come what may," Khasi Students' Union vice-president Frederick Kharmawphlang said, adding the bandh would begin at 5 AM on October 17.
KSU has been spearheading the agitation for ILP since September 4 along with Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP) and 11 other pressure groups in the state.
During their month-long agitation, which was kept in abeyance during Durga Puja, the pro-ILP activists put up road blockades in the night, besides picketing in offices and sponsoring bandhs. Several people were injured and properties worth over Rs 40 crore damaged in the agitation.
Pro-ILP activists in Meghalaya, like their counterparts in Manipur, have charged Congress with maintaining double standards and discrimination since ILP is in force in Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Nagaland.
The state government, which is against the "outdated" ILP introduced during the British rule, has constituted a special court to try the sponsors of bandhs and blockades in violation of Supreme Court orders.
Chief Minister Mukul Sangma had outlined a more "comprehensive, integrated and institutionalised" mechanism to check influx.
The proposed Regulation of Landlords and Verification of Tenancy Bill, 2013 was drafted and its implementation would regulate the stay of outsiders, especially those in industries and mining belts, he had said.
