Protest against migrants in Shillai, police begin verification campaign

The Paonta Sahib police today started the verification and registration of outsiders residing in the area. The move comes following widespread protests against migrants in view of the mosque controversy in Sanjauli of Shimla district.

A protest was held in Shillai this morning against individuals from other states residing in Sirmaur district without proper police verification. Hindu organisations have been staging protests in the state against people coming from other states to work in Himachal Pradesh without proper verification. A protest rally was held in Paonta Sahib on September 14.

Aditi Singh, Assistant SP, Paonta Sahib, issued directives to all police station in-charges under her jurisdiction to collect detailed information of people from other states, who were selling fruit, vegetables and other goods on roadside or in kiosks in Himachal. Till date, the Paonta Sahib police have maintained the record of 70 migrant vendors.

She also issued instructions that the antecedents of all migrant labourers staying in the region should be verified through their landlords and coordination should be established with local representatives such as councillors, panchayat heads and ward members and all information be registered at local police stations.

Aditi Singh said that, so far, all individuals verified by the police were Indian citizens from other states, who were primarily engaged in petty businesses. No case of foreign nationals residing in the region or indulging in illegal activities had been detected, she added. Some organisations had alleged that Bangladesh nationals were living in the region.