SHILLONG: The State Government has sought five companies of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) from the Centre to tackle the alarming rise in militant activities in Garo Hills.
Talking to media persons after having a review meeting over the Garo Hills situation with the senior police officials, Home Minister HDR Lyngdoh said, “We have asked for five companies of ITBP from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) which we are yet to get, to tackle the situation in Garo Hills.”
“If we don’t get the sanction in a few days, we may approach the Centre once again,” he added.
Fifteen 15 platoons of MLP and six platoons of CRPF have already been deployed in the trouble-torn district of East Garo Hills, considered as a GNLA stronghold.
The Home Minister said the militants behind the ambush killing three police personnel at Tapa Darengchi near Mendipather on May 4 are likely to be nailed in the next few days.
Though the GNLA had washed its hands off the attack pointing the finger of doubt towards the Rabha Security Force (RSF) and the NDFB, the State Police asserted it was the handiwork of the Garo outfit.
“We have no doubt that the GNLA was involved in the incident and we don’t have any inputs about NDFB’s involvement in the incident,” Lyngdoh said.
Meanwhile, the State Government has announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the next of kin of each of the slain policemen and promised to bear all medical expenses of the injured cops.
Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Rajiv Mehta is likely to visit Garo Hills on Tuesday to assess the law and order situation in the wake of the ambush.