By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The recent planting of a landmine by suspected GNLA militants to target the East Garo Hills Superintendent of Police JFK Marak and the rise in violent incidents in Garo Hills have prompted the State Government to seek deployment of additional security forces in the upcoming Assembly elections.
A security related meeting will be convened by the Election department next week to discuss the overall requirement of security personnel for the whole State during the election.
The sensitive polling stations have already been declared hyper sensitive due to the activities of various militant groups in Garo Hills. Moreover, parts of West Khasi Hills and Jaintia Hills have also become sensitive. The State Government is planning to ask from the Centre more CRPF personnel compared to the past to prevent any violent incidents in view of the Assembly elections due within few months as the election department wanted to check untoward incidents during the polls.
“The use of landmine can pose serious problems for the movement of the security personnel who will be deployed for election duty and we will have to chalk out an action plan,” a State Home department official said.
According to the official, since GNLA is accumulating landmines and other explosives besides guns enough security measures will be taken by the Government during elections.
Besides the presence of GNLA in the entire Garo Hills and bordering West Khasi Hills, the ANVC, currently under ceasefire, its breakaway group ANVC (B) and other minor criminal groups including LAEF have made it tough for the police to tackle the dangers they can pose during elections.
Before the ceasefire with the ANVC in 2004, Garo Hills had witnessed series of violent incidents especially during elections.
After the ceasefire for almost five years, Garo Hills enjoyed relative peace till the emergence of GNLA and ANVC (B).