By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Militants operating in Meghalaya are not terrorists but extortionists and should not be glorified, said Chief Secretary WMS Pariat. He was speaking at a function organised to observe the Anti-Terrorism Day in the Main Secretariat premises here on Tuesday.
“Meghalaya, in the last few years, had its share of insurgency and terrorist activities,” Pariat said even as all present on the occasion pledged to promote peace.
The GAD Minister HDR Lyngdoh, who was also present on the occasion, stressed on the need to make sustained efforts to eliminate the economic and social scourges on which terrorism breeds.
Stating that trade, commerce and the economic development have been adversely affected due to insurgent activities, Lyngdoh said that the common man is the biggest victim of terrorism.
“We need to resolve crisis situations and find lasting political solutions to conflicts and hotbed of tension before it is exploited by ideologies of violence,” the Minister said.
The Anti-Terrorism Day is observed with an aim of weaning away the youths who often gets lured into the folds of terrorist groups and organisations. The minister along with the officers and staff of the Main Secretariat observed a minute’s silence to express solidarity to those who incurred losses
due to terrorism, worldwide. The gathering also honoured the sacrifices made by thousands of soldiers who battled against terrorism.
The Anti-Terrorism Day is observed every year on May 21 with an objective to wean away the youth from terrorism and cult of violence by highlighting the suffering of common people and showing as to how it is detrimental to national interest
Our Tura Correspondent adds
Together with the rest of the nation, the Anti-Terrorism Day was observed in Tura in the Deputy Commissioner’s office complex, and other office establishments on Tuesday.
The pledge taking ceremony at the Deputy Commissioner’s office complex, Tura was led by Ambrose Ch. Marak, Additional District Magistrate, West Garo Hills and was attended by the officers and staff of the Amalgamated Establishment of Deputy Commissioner’s Office including the general public.