Strong force to neutralize militants: Sangma

STAFF CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG, March 18: Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma today said that a strong force will be applied to neutralize the anti-tiol and crimil forces in the State. Soon after a cabinet meeting held at the State Secretariat on Wednesday, the Chief Minister was specifically asked on whether the proscribed Garo tiol Liberation Army (GNLA) has taken on him by calling an indefinite shutdown in his constituency. Without alluding to the indefinite shutdown in his constituency, the Chief Minister stated, “They (GNLA) have proved beyond doubt that they want to engage in anti-tiol and crimil activities”.

“The police has been given a strong directive to neutralize these forces. They will attend to their responsibilities and carry on,” stated Mukul Sangma while adding that the strong use of force will also send a message to others who have a tendency to involve themselves in such anti-tiol and crimil acts.

Indirectly referring to the government’s conditiol peace overtures that has failed to evoke the desired response from the militant groups, the Chief Minister said, “Our message on different occasions and on different platforms have been abundantly clear… yet these unprincipled anti-tiol forces prefer to take steps to dilute the government from fulfilling its responsibilities”.

 “Nonetheless, we are focusing to restore peace in Garo Hills and other parts of the State,” the Chief Minister added while expressing his gratitude to the people who have dared to defy the indefinite bandh called by the GNLA in the district headquarter of South West Garo Hills.

The State Director General of Police (DGP) Rajiv Mehta held a review meeting in Garo Hills on Tuesday and similar messages to be ruthless with the militants was conveyed to the field officers.

The GNLA on Tuesday issued fresh warning against those who defied the bandh, but Mukul Sangma said the public movement against such illegitimate diktat will prevail. “Crimils don’t have principles and ideologies to convince the general mass,” Sangma said.  

Meanwhile, the State Home Minister Roshan Warjri and the DGP held a meeting on Wednesday evening at the former’s office chamber.