Roy Kupar Synrem, President of the Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC), delivered a speech at a protest march targeting Bengali Muslim migrants, whom he described as illegal immigrants and “Bangladeshis,” and asked them to return to Bangladesh. He called on Chief Minister Conrad Sangma to deport “Bangals” from the state. Claiming that the Garo Hills belong to the A’chik people (hill people) and not to “Bangladeshis” or “Pakistanis,” he declared that the slogan “Allahu Akbar” would not be allowed in the state and challenged them to a street fight. The protest was held in solidarity with Garo community groups staging protests over what they alleged was a rise in illegal immigration from Bangladesh.