No Amnesty Needed for Militants: Former DGP Rajeev Mehta

STAFF CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG: Former Meghalaya Director General of Police (DGP) and Chief Security Advisor to the State Government Rajeev Mehta has categorically stated that the surrendered militants should not be given amnesty.

Mehta who once led his team of officers to nab Thangkhiew told The Sentinel over phone from Gurgaon, “My stand is that there should be no more amnesty for such elements or else they would go scot free and resort to all unwanted activities”. Without referring to the surrendered chairman of the HNLC who turned politician and was also jailed for a rape case (under the POSCO Act), Mehta further advocated that the cases against these militants should be pursued vigorously. The former DGP stated, “Welcome them if they want to surrender but the law of the land should prevail. Justice should be meted out to the people who have suffered in their hands.”

Referring to Cheristerfield Thangkhiew, the surrendered HNLC leader, Mehta stated, “We arrested him from Mawlai Nongpdeng and brought him to the police headquarter in his underwear in 1994-95.”

“I could remember the pair of jeans that was brought by my sub-inspector to provide him with the cover needed in the course of our questioning,” stated Mehta who was then the DIG posted in Shillong. Mehta said that he was one of the linkmen between the HNLC and the NSCN (IM).