Crimes against women, minor tops list

SHILLONG, FEB 26: Taking over the mantle of Meghalaya’s Director General of Police-DGP-on Thursday, Rajiv Mehta promised to make crimes against women and children the state’s police top priority even as he informed that neutralizing militancy in Garo hill will also get the same yardstick of attention.

Mehta, who had earlier severed as Meghalaya additional DGP and later was posted to Delhi, succeeded PJP Haneman who retired late last year.

Immediately after taking over as DGP, Mehta told reporters that crime against women and children are not isolated to Meghalaya alone as such crimes is committed all over the country. But he said the difference is that in other parts of the country such crimes are committed by criminal gangs but in Meghalaya the crime is committed by someone from within the society.

Stating that such crimes are a social issue, Mehta was of the opinion that the community can play a major role in controlling crimes against women and children and promised that his officers will interact and take the village elders into confidence as police cannot be expected to control the crimes alone.

With regard to militancy in Garo hills, Mehta said the state police will do its utmost to neutralize and wipe out militancy in Garo hills and informed that he will be touring Garo hills soon to take stock of the present situation along with his senior police officers in the region.

Mehta said, “We will go to the best extent possible against militancy in the state.”  He, however, informed that he will not set any deadline to wipe out militancy and felt that tacking the militancy problem will take time because of Garo hills terrain.

Mehta asserted that apart from the banned Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA), all splinter militant groups indulging in anti-social activities in Garo hills need to be brought to ‘book.  He informed that he will leave for Garo hills tour next week.

“During my 3-4 days visit to the region, I will be convening a meeting with all the SPs to take stock of the present situation,” Mehta said adding that assessment will be made on issues pertaining to forces, anti insurgent operations and others.

Informing about the action plan to tackle militancy, Mehta said he will immediately convene the SPs & COs conference for identification of critical areas.  “All my senior officers are going to interact during this conference as the aim is to be clear on what is the road map ahead of us, what are the critical areas that we need to concentrate,” he informed. – By Our Reporter