Defy HNLC bandh on R-Day: Sangma

Shillong, January 22: As the proscribe Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) militant outfit has called a bandh from I am to 5 pm on Republic Day on January 26, Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma has appealed to the people of the state to defy the bandh call and actively take part in the celebration.

Besides the HNLC, the boycott call has also been given by Six militant groups that includes the United Liberation Front of Asom-(Independent) of Assam and National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT), National Democratic Front of Boroland (Songbijit faction) and the Kamatapur Liberation Organization (KLO) operating in Assam and North Bengal and the six militant outfits in Manipur under the banner of Coordination Committee (CorCom).

Sangma told reporters after the cabinet meeting on Wednesday forenoon, “We have been appealing to the people of the state to come out. As we have seen in the past, people have participated despite the boycott call. We have been able to show this to the world. People have come out with their own enthusiasm and demonstrate their love for the country and celebrate in a befitting manner.”

Sangma assured that the government has made adequate security arrangement to ensure a peaceful Republic Day celebration.

Special Operation Teams are ready there in all the district headquarters, while check-points have been set up in various intersections of the city to check the movement of the militants.

Incidentally, Garo militant outfits in the Garo hills region of Meghalaya have never given a boycotted call either during Independence Day or Republic Day celebrations.

To ensure that militants do not cross over from Bangladesh to the north east region of India through the porous border, the Border Security Force (BSF) has increased its vigilance in the unfenced India-Bangladesh border in Meghalaya and has also sent additional reinforcement.

A BSF official said, ”Troops on the ground zero have been alerted. We are sharing intelligence inputs with the state police to thwart any disturbances.”

The Meghalaya cabinet also approved the names of VIPs who would be unfurling the national flag and take the national salute on Sunday in various locations across the state.

Governor Krishan Kant Paul will be unfurling the tricolour and take the salute in the state capital, while state public works department minister Sniawbhalang Dhar will be in Tura, West Garo Hills.

Home minister Roshan Warjri will be in Sohra civil sub-division in East Khasi Hills while former chief minister DD Lapang will be in Mairang civil sub-division in West Khasi Hills. – By Our Reporter