SHILLONG: Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma said that lack of response time rendered the police less effective in tackling the challenge of suspected GNLA militants at Shallang on Friday last.
The militants engaged in rampant looting of coal laden trucks in West Khasi Hills and even challenged the police to engage in a fight with them.
Responding to a query on the sidelines of the cabinet meeting on Monday the Chief Minister told reporters that DGP PJP Hanaman had briefed him about the incident.
“Due to the absence of adequate forces, the response time was less and this made the police less effective ,” the Chief Minister said. According to the Chief Minister, in the past too, there have been several instances where the militants had taken advantage of the thin presence of security personnel in Garo Hills. Citing an example, the Chief Minister said that in 2010 when GNLA was at its formation stage, police wanted to neutralize the militant outfit, but as forces had to be withdrawn to tackle the unrest in Langpih, the GNLA used the situation to grow stronger. He also said that post Christmas in 2011, police forces had to concentrate on the Garo-Rabha conflict which also resulted in the GNLA becoming powerful. The Chief Minister also informed that the State has given a proposal to the Centre to strengthen the police outposts and police stations in phases.
