SHILLONG: Taking a tough stand, Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said on Tuesday that the State Government would not be dictated by anyone while deciding on the site for setting up of designated camps for the ANVC-B.
“The State Government will not abide by the dictates whether by ANVC or ANVC (B),” Sangma told reporters on Tuesday.
According to him, the Government will decide on the setting up of the designated camps in accordance with the requirements and needs.
While several quarters including NGOs and political parties have opposed the idea to set up designated camps of the ANVC-B in West Khasi Hills, the militant group has been firm on its stand that it is not going to step back from its demand of having a camp in the region West Khasi Hills region.
To a query from reporters, Sangma reiterated: “An appropriate decision is needed which will not whip up any controversy on the matter and the government will decide what is appropriate and when required.”
According to him, the purpose of any camp was to ensure that cadres of the militant outfit concerned were housed in these and did not move around and for that the appropriate location would have to be identified.
“The responsibility of the district administration is to enforce the provision of law. Without appropriate camps, how is it possible for district administration to differentiate between people who are indulging in perpetration of crimes,” Chief Minister asked.”Since they are giving the opportunity to participate in the peace process, it is therefore required that they must be able to identify their own cadres and provide the list of all the cadres, arms and ammunition and this is what they (ANVC-B) have done and based on that we would house them in certain areas,” the chief minister said.
Sangma informed that the responsibility of examining various aspects relating to housing ANVC-B cadres in designated camps had been given to the concerned departments and the Government would take a decision once they put up their suggestions.