Raju’s GNLA neutralisation claim falls flat

SHILLONG:  The claim of senior police official GHP Raju that he will neutralize GNLA militants within three months has turned out to be a publicity stunt.
It was on November 12 last that Raju, who is the  Inspector General of Police (IGP) in charge of operations and administration based in Shillong came on record saying that “GNLA will be neutralized in the next three months with the Police department preparing to come up with strategized plans to take down the outfit.”
A month later, in an interview to a section of the press, Raju  reiterated that “Police  will take down the proscribed GNLA within a three months time through their modified drills and mechanisms”.
The three-month deadline ended on February 12 and instead of a reduction in the activities of the GNLA, militancy seems to be on a high in the region with more cases of abductions, extortions, killings and  attacks on even magistrates being reported.
Recently the Meghalaya DGP PJP Hanaman toured Garo Hills to take stock of the situation and later, other senior police officials had also visited various parts of the region.
A home department official said that the militants in Garo Hills took advantage of the vacuum created after the security personnel were withdrawn from Garo Hills for law and order duty in Khasi Hills during the agitation of the pressure groups demanding implementation of the ILP.
“Now we are trying to deploy more forces in Garo Hills to contain militancy,” the official said.