GH disturb areas? Will examine, says govt

SHILLONG, JUNE 19: Chief minister Mukul Sangma said the need to declare certain areas in the five districts of the militancy-infested Garo hills region as “disturbed areas” will be examine by the government. He said all aspects of this particular issue will be jointly examined by all concerned.

Reacting  to query from reporters on Thursday whether the state government is toying with this particular idea to curb criminal activities of the militants in Garo hills, Sangma said  “So far, we are not ruling out anything on the matter but as  of now we will not talk about it as we will look into this aspects.”

Sangma said militants activities are there in all five districts of Garo hills region including some pockets of West Khasi hills and South West Khasi hills districts. He felt the heighten militants activities is because of the terrain and thick vegetation in certain parts of the region like East Garo hills and South Garo hills districts as top leaders of the militant groups are operating from these areas. He said, “But nevertheless crimes perpetrated upon innocent citizens have been palpable across five districts of the region.”

Sangma was of the opinion that as militancy is a complex issue, the problem requires to be tackled jointly by all the north eastern states in tandem with the union government.  He said, “There is an urgent need for all of us to come together and address this issue in a much more comprehensive manner and give the kind of attention it deserves.”

Sangma  pointed out on number of occasion the mother of all insurgency outfits such as NSCN, ULFA NDFB’s anti talk faction are helping in the creation of many militant outfits  and there were training camps jointly operated by ULFA and GNLA. He said all information  are available with the state governments including Assam and the union government.

Pointing out that police have been able to intercept consignment of sophisticated arms smuggled by militant outfits outside Meghalaya, like Assam, Sangma said to stop it requires coordination between both the states which they are doing.

Sangma said, “The integrated approach in handling such situation has help to intercept number of consignment in the stretch of Dimapur and Guwahati,” he said.  He said all NE states having similar problems must come together and address this issue and with support of the union government.-By Our Reporter