By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma has recently written to Union Defence Minister AK Antony seeking sanction of one battalion of Territorial Army (Home and Hearts) for Meghalaya.
Official sources on Thursday informed that the Chief Minister also referred to the letter of the Union Defence Minister on November 22, 2011, where he had directed the Union Defence Secretary to examine the matter urgently.
Taking into account the chronic problem of militancy and insurgency in the State which is posing serious threat to national security and integrity, the State deserves to have a Battalion of the Territorial Army.
According to official sources, most states in the region namely Manipur, Nagaland, Assam and Tripura have already been sanctioned with the Home and Hearth Formations while Arunachal Pradesh has already been sanctioned a battalion of Arunachal Scout.
“The State also deserves similar forces which have been sanctioned in other North Eastern States,” the official sources said.
The sources also informed that the concept of the Territorial Army (Home and Hearts) is to recruit, train and employ the youth from the specified geographical area to combat insurgents within the geographical area.