Shillong, Feb 26: The A·Chik Conscious Holistically Integrated Krima (ACHIK) has sent letter to the Union Home Minister Mr. Amit Shah urging the central Government to conduct Special Intensive Revision of the electoral roll in Meghalaya before holding general election to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council that due this year 2026.
In the letter sign by advocate Kevin Ch. Sangma General Secretary and Shri. Macklawrence M. Sangma President of the organisation ACHIK stated that the alarming situation prevailing in the Garo Hills region of Meghalaya and to formally demand the conduct of a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls prior to the forthcoming elections to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) scheduled for 2026.
In the letter mention that on 9th January 2026, at Goalgaon, Rajabala, West Garo Hills District, our member, an Indigenous Garo activists, late Dilseng M. Sangma, was brutally killed in a violent attack allegedly carried out by illegal Bangladeshi settlers.
On that fateful day, more than 50 individuals reportedly ambushed our leaders and members, pelting stones and attacking with daos, sharp weapons, iron rods, and other deadly weapons. In the course of this violent assault, late Dilseng M. Sangma lost his life, while others narrowly escaped through self-defence and timely retreat.
This tragic incident is not an isolated event but reflects the growing tension and insecurity arising from continuous illegal encroachment upon ancestral lands of the Indigenous Garo people.
The unchecked influx and settlement of illegal immigrants have led to serious demographic concerns in the Garo Hills region. Such developments threaten not only the land rights and cultural identity of the Indigenous communities but also the integrity of the electoral process in the Autonomous District Council.
In light of these grave concerns, we humbly yet firmly request the Ministry of Home Affairs to, intervene urgently in the matter to ensure law and order in the region. Direct the appropriate authorities to conduct a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in all constituencies under GHADC before the 2026 elections.
This to ensure thorough verification of citizenship and eligibility of voters to safeguard the constitutional rights of the Indigenous tribal population. Take necessary measures to prevent illegal encroachment and protect the demographic and administrative integrity of the Sixth Schedule areas.
The Autonomous District Council system under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution was instituted to protect the rights, customs, land, and governance of tribal communities. Allowing ineligible or illegal settlers to influence the electoral process would defeat the very purpose of this constitutional safeguard.
ACHIK appeal to your esteemed office to take immediate and decisive action in the interest of justice, constitutional propriety, and the protection of Indigenous rights. They remain hopeful that the Government of India will uphold the rule of law and ensure that the forthcoming GHADC elections are conducted in a free, fair, and legally sound manner.
