Centre tells State Govt to ‘act fast’
SHILLONG: The Centre on Wednesday warned Meghalaya government over the deteriorating law and order situation in Garo Hills region where militants are on a kidnapping and killing spree, even as the Opposition UDP sought immediate Central intervention into the matter.
“We are aware of what is happening over there in Garo Hills. It is apparent that the state government has failed to tackle the rising crimes in Garo Hills. The state (government) needs to have a complete view on how to restore normalcy and must act immediately,” Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju told a news agency.
He asked the State government to “act fast” to control the situation in Garo Hills.
“The internal security reports from Garo Hills are very disturbing to us despite we have sanctioned Central forces as requested by them (state government). Militant activities are on the rise… coupled with poor maintenance of law and order,” he said.
Four people, including a nine-year-old boy, have been abducted from different places in Garo Hills over the last one week.
A petrol pump worker hailing from Bihar was shot dead on Tuesday on the outskirts of Tura.
“The current situation in Garo Hills is definitely not good. We need to have a complete view of the situation, The Centre is disturbed and what is happening in Garo Hills is not good for us,” Rijiju said.
On the other hand, the core committee of the UDP, which met on Wednesday, took stock of the law and order situation in Garo Hills.
The working president of UDP, Bindo Lanong informed that while the UDP appreciates and welcomes the announcement of the new Prime Minister that Northeast will get special attention, “but we are yet to get even a faint signal of the promise as what is urgently required today for the Centre is to attend to law and order situation in Garo Hills where state government has completely failed to provide relief to the sufferings to the people”.
According to UDP, the closure of petrol pumps, banks, ATMs, and markets have brought sufferings to the citizens and the security scenario has gone down to dogs.
Moreover, the district heads are at logger heads and the entire Garo Hills sector has plunged into utter lawlessness, the UDP leader added. “The Centre cannot take the matter lightly and ignore its duty, as it should immediately appoint a special committee to deal with the current situation with a strong mandate in a manner the Supreme had appointed the NGT panel to deal with coal trade,” he said.
UDP will seek appointment with Meghalaya Governor early next week to discuss with him on the need to effect Central initiative to address Garo Hills situation.
“We also suggest the Centre to arrange positive parleys with militant groups to end insurgency in Garo Hills region which had witnessed peace for at least one decade and half ago. (With inputs from agency)