By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The State government has strengthened its security apparatus after receiving specific inputs regarding proscribed HNLC’s plan to carry out hit-and-run operations to make its presence felt on its 25th raising day.
The outfit’s ‘raising day’ falls on August 14, on the eve of Independence Day.
“We take all threats seriously. The security forces have been put on high alert on the reported threat of the militant group. All necessary steps have been taken to ensure that there is no incident in the run-up to the Independence Day,” Chief Secretary WMS Pariat said here on Monday.
Stating that the Government was not taking any chances, he said necessary security arrangements have been put in place to thwart any attempt to disrupt the Independence Day celebration.
Last month, armed cadres of the Khasi outfit opened fire at a police station in the heart of the city. Two weeks later, they opened fire at a police patrol party in the erstwhile Jaintia Hills district.
On Sunday evening, about 100 posters belonging to the proscribed outfit were seized from a vehicle at Jowai, the headquarters of West Jaintia Hills district.
The HNLC has called for a 17-hour general strike from 1am to 5.30pm on August 15.
Meanwhile, M Kharkrang, SP (City), said, the outfit wanted to create panic among people “but it has failed to create any impact.”
Police checkpoints have been set up at strategic locations in the city and in vulnerable areas.
Meghalaya Police have also sought cooperation from the BSF, which is guarding the 443 km-long international border.
The BSF is on ‘Ops Alert’ from August 6 to 20 in collaboration with their counterparts in Bangladesh to effectively seal the international border.