Counter-insurgency ops in Garo Hills
SHILLONG: Despite the deteriorating law and order situation in Garo Hills, IGP in-charge administration and operation, GHP Raju, has dismissed the idea of involving the Army in counter insurgency operations.
Speaking to The Shillong Times here on Wednesday, Raju said, “I am totally against the move (to involve the Army in counter insurgency operations) which will only result in human rights violation and lead to a total mess.”
Recalling that previous Army operations against the ANVC had not paid dividends, Raju said any future army operations would also fail to yield results as far as tackling the proscribed GNLA is concerned.
The IGP asserted that with the help of CoBRA unit of the CRPF and the Central Government, the State Police will win the war against militants operating in Garo Hills.
The senior police official, however, admitted that the situation in Garo Hills is not ideal and the state police are taking every possible step to contain the insurgent related activities.
The GNLA has unleashed a reign of terror in Garo Hills and scores of people – civilians, policemen and militants included – have been killed in the region over the past few years.
Earlier, Raju had claimed that the GNLA will be neutralized in 90 days time with the Police department preparing to come up with strategized plans to take down the outfit.
In the wake of the grim situation in Garo Hills, the Centre has also extended the cover of controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act in Assam and border areas of Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya for a period of six more months with effect from November 4.
