Militancy: Govt to raise special force

Shillong, November 13: The state government decided to raise a “Special Multi-Task Force” to counter militancy, especially in Garo hills districts of the state.   Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma told reporters on Wednesday after the cabinet meeting that the government has directed the police department to work out a proposal to raise the “Special Multi-Task Force” which will be as a strong as a battalion to counter problems relating to militancy in the state.

Sangma informed that the proposal will be put in a “fast-track” mode to see that necessary sanctions are given immediately.” He felt the state has not invested adequately to have the kind of security response needed which is capable of meeting the demand of handling crises situations.

Sangma said that it has become necessary for the state government to re-strategize its support and investment required to strengthen the police organization and informed that the government revisited and analysed the security scenario and accordingly decided that time has come for the state government to strengthen the internal security apparatus and appropriately strategize its  investment and action plan.

The decision came following the insufficient support received by the state government from centre when tackling the problem of insurgency that is taking a toll on the different parts of the Garo hills region of the state.

Sangma said, “The forces who are tasked to focus on counter insurgency operations are often required to be withdrawn because most of the time besides our own police forces we are relying on the forces which are drawn from the central paramilitary forces.” He also pointed out that the support given by the Ministry of Home Affairs is not sufficient to the state’s requirement.

Though the state need continuous deployment of central paramilitary forces, Sangma however said sometimes when some other areas have certain law and order situations besides elections, these forces are withdrawn and send to those areas. He said, “This dislocated the “usual focus” on counter insurgency and thereby the kind of results that would have yielded does not often happen.”

Sangma further maintain that it is not possible for the state government to depend only on the paramilitary forces provided by the centre because India has lots of inherent problems including Maoists. He, however, said, “It is imperative for union government to invest more in respect of strengthening its internal security apparatus and also state government must invariably do it because law and order is a state subject.” He said the central and state governments must work together.”

Sangma also informed that the state government has also been taking up aggressively with the centre the need to further strengthen the efforts of the state government in its endeavour to bring peace and normalcy in the state particularly in respect to counter insurgency operations.

Sangma said many of the militant outfits operating in the state and other parts of the north east have easy access to sophisticated arms and they are obviously not manufactured in Shillong or Guwhati or Tura.

Sangma also said the cabinet also decided the need to strengthen the prosecution wing because many of the cases that are registered in crimes against women and child are delayed.  He said this will be looked after by the chief secretary who will drive the whole proposals and put them in the fast track mode.-By Our Reporter