Govt to raise special force
SHILLONG: Hit by the acute shortage of manpower while handling the dual task of maintaining law and order and engaging in counter insurgency operations, the State Government has decided to raise a special multi-task force that would be equipped to deal with all law and order situations.
Speaking to media persons after reviewing the law and order situation in the State, Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma said that the police department has been asked to work out a proposal for raising the force on a fast-track mode.
Chief Secretary WMS Pariat has been assigned the responsibility of preparing the proposal.
The Chief Minister admitted that there was an urgent need to strengthen the police force in the State considering that additional forces sanctioned by the Ministry of Home Affairs are often withdrawn from the State whenever problems arise in other parts of the country.
“It is necessary for us to re-strategize the strengthening of the police organization,” the Chief Minister said, while stressing on the need to revamp the prosecution wing of the police department.
On the issue of dealing with insurgent groups in the State, Dr Sangma pointed out that militants have easy access to sophisticated arms which they procure from across the border.
In this regard, Dr Sangma sought coordination between the Centre and the State Government to identify the ‘weaknesses’ in the police department that is, in turn, helping the insurgent groups.
“There is a need for the State Government and the Central Government to work together since it is not possible for us to depend on Central paramilitary forces all the time,” Dr Sangma said, while laying stress on investment in internal security and strengthening of the internal security apparatus.
Reacting to a query on whether the Government is mulling any action against the ANVC-B for their alleged involvement in the killing of two BSF personnel in the State last week, the Chief Minister said that the State Government would deal firmly with any organisation which is indulging in illegal activities.