SHILLONG: Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma said that at his level, he had issued necessary instructions to the Police Headquarters through the Home department to submit their list of requirements to the Government, including weapons and other equipments.
“Supplementary demand is coming from the Home department. These are additional funds which the Government intends to give,” Sangma told newsmen on Monday.
Sangma also informed that the Government has approached the Ministry of Home Affairs for funds available under Police Modernization Schemes which are subsequently passed on to the State but such funds are not commensurate to the actual requirement for strengthening the internal security apparatus. “Since the Police Modernization Schemes have been withdrawn from the recent Union Budget, we expect the Centre to release funds to the respective State Governments to strengthen its internal security,” the Chief Minister said.
It may be mentioned that there has been a pattern of killing by militant outfits which has resulted in heavy police casualty in Garo Hills in the recent past. Policemen had become sitting ducks as they did not have bullet proof jackets.
Senior officers have stated that the only bullet-proof jackets available at present are about 16 kg in weight and far too difficult to move around with in a difficult terrain and hot weather conditions. They feel that the bullet proof jackets need to be tailored to the physique of policemen here who are medium statured.
