SHILLONG: Independent legislator Saleng Sangma, who had come under the attack of militants in Garo Hills in the past, has urged Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to institute a CBI inquiry into the alleged politician-militant nexus in Garo Hills.
In a recent letter addressed to the Union Home Minister, Saleng, who represents Gambegre constituency of West Garo Hills, said that to resolve the issue of law and order problems in Garo Hills, there is a need to initiate a CBI probe to unravel the truth into the alleged politico-militant nexus in the state since the head of the Congress Government, Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, had himself admitted that such a nexus exists in Meghalaya.
To substantiate his claims, Saleng said that the militancy problem has crossed all limits and that the general public, including Government officials, bank employees, prominent personalities, traders and even the legislator himself had been victims of this onslaught.
“To cite an instance, in 2012, a grenade was hurled at my residence which exploded but with God’s Grace, my family was unharmed. The militants had even planted an RDX explosive to kill me, but fortunately I escaped. While these incidents had shocked every concerned citizen and condemnations poured in from various quarters, to my surprise, the Head of the Government did not even react,” Saleng said.
Saleng, who was a Congress legislator, contested and won the 2013 Assembly elections as an Independent from Gambegre after being denied party ticket by the State Congress leadership.
Copies of his letter were also sent to Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju, Meghalaya Governor K.K. Paul, Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, Tura MP PA Sangma and Union Home Secretary Anil Goswami.
According to Saleng, the law and order situation, arising out of the growing militancy problem, has affected the daily lives of the citizens residing in the five districts of Garo Hills.
Seeking the intervention of the Union Home Minister, Saleng said that the activities of the militants have largely affected the socio-economic activities in the region.
“The functioning of the Congress Government in Meghalaya has totally collapsed and the entire Government machinery has miserably failed in maintaining law and order and protecting the citizens and their interest,” he said.
Saleng further pointed out that the Head of the State Government had also claimed that there are enough evidences to prove the prevalence of a politico-militant nexus in the State, but no action in this regard has been initiated.
The legislator further reminded that a militant, allegedly belonging to the ANVC (B), who had revealed the names of such politicians who were supposedly maintaining links with militant groups, was killed the very next day after making the revelations.
Media reports had stated that ANVC-B political secretary, Ajaju R Marak, had revealed that the Chief Minister had links with ANVC-B chairman Rimpu N Marak, but he was shot dead by the police the very next day after he made the allegations. Subsequently, ANVC-B self-styled commander-in-chief Mukost Marak had also revealed the nexus between the Chief Minister and the ANVC and also its chairman Dilash Marak.
“I would like to bring to your notice that threats were issued to a section of legislators, including the undersigned, in 2011, to support a particular political leader or otherwise, we would be barred from entering the Garo Hills,” the legislator said, adding that there are around a dozen militant groups operating in the Garo Hills at this point of time, which has crippled normal life.
He also stated that the Union Home Minister must be aware of the rampant killings, rapes, abductions and atrocities on women which are taking place in the entire Garo Hills region.
“In the light of these happenings, I would like to humbly request your benign self to kindly intervene to resolve all these issues by initiating a CBI probe,” Saleng added.