SHILLONG: Home Minister HDR Lyngdoh has lashed out at his party colleague and former Chief Minister DD Lapang for attacking the State Government over the deteriorating law and order situation in Garo Hills.
“As an advisor of the Government he (Lapang) should advise us to improve the situation instead of criticising us,” Lyngdoh told reporters on Monday.
Lapang had said the Government had failed in tackling the militant menace which led to deterioration of law and order situation causing insecurity to the people in Garo Hills.
“Lapang’s statement was uncalled for as the Government is trying its best to curb down the militant activities,” Lyngdoh said.
While Lapang has been leading the dissident group in its campaign to oust Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, the Home Minister HDR Lyngdoh has so far been supporting Sangma despite many of the Cabinet ministers had shifted their allegiance to Lapang.
Police condolence: Senior State police officials on Monday held a meeting to condole the death of the three slain policemen in the ambush in East Garo Hills on early Saturday morning.
The meeting while paying homage to the slain policemen for their supreme sacrifice also decided to send a proposal to the Government for payment of ex-gratia and special pension equal to the last pay drawn till the notional date of retirement to the next kin of the deceased at the earliest.
Demand notes: Education Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh has revealed two Government officers have so far lodged complaints about receiving demand notes from the GNLA.
“The two officers are from the Education and Tourism departments,” the Minister who has returned from her Garo Hills tour told reporters here on Monday.
According to Ampareen, one officer was demanded Rs 25 lakh while the other received a demand note of Rs 60 lakh.
“We have submitted the documents to the police,” she said adding that she took up the matter with the authorities in East and West Garo Hills districts.
Indicating that there are many other officers, who received similar demand from the GNLA, she said, “They are refusing to report the matter due to fear.”