MEGHALAYA GOVT SEEKS MORE FORCES IN GARO HILLS

Concerned over the growing activities of militant groups in the state, Meghalaya government has asked for five additional battalions of paramilitary forces to neutralize the outfits. Meghalaya Chief Minister Dr. Mukul sangma expressed over the groups from across the borders operating in Meghalaya. The resent militant ambush at the police patrol at east Garo hills where three cops were killed has made the Government of Meghalaya rethink on the security aspect of the state. Meghalaya Home Minister HDR Lyngdoh said the state has asked for five ITBP battalions and the request has been made to the Ministry of Home Affairs. He said combing operations were continuing in the Garo hills where the activities of militant groups were in spate. Asserting that there is a need to take serious and bold steps to curb the growing activities of the militants, the Home Minister claimed that the situation was still in its control. Backing his force, the Home Minister said it is difficult for the forces to operate given the topography in the remote areas of Garo hills.The Home Minister will be visiting all the three districts of Garo hills to access the law and order situation and boost the morale of the police personnel serving there. Chief Minister Mukul Sangma also assured that steps were being taken to ensure that the elements are neutralized. Admitting that there was a deficiency of manpower in the state, he hoped that the Centre would sanction the additional forces soon. The Chief Minister also asserted that there was a need to address the root cause of the militancy problem so that no more new outfits are born. The Chief Minister added that the issues of backwardness, unemployment etc in the rural areas need to be addressed to resolve the issue. Three police men were killed and two others injured, one of them critically when Garo National Liberation Army militants ambushed a security team, fired at them before taking away their weapons last Saturday in East Garo Hills. Later on ULFA’s hand was also revealed in GNLA ambush in Garo Hills. This has created suspicion on the activity of ULFA on Garo soil. The GNLA is the most active militant group in Meghalaya at present and has been blamed for rampant extortion in the Garo hills belt. The outfit, claiming to be fighting for an independent Garoland, had also carried out a number of kidnappings over the last few months and slapped extortion demands on traders and government officials, besides killing policemen and labourers.

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