Meghalaya needs concrete action plan to supress militancy: Union Home Ministry
SHILLONG: The Centre wanted full backing of political leadership for any significant improvement in the law and order situation in Meghalaya.
This was reflected in the recent affidavit filed by Director, North East, Union Ministry of Home Affairs, J.P.N. Singh before the High Court of Meghalaya.
The official also added that the Ministry of Home Affairs will review deployment of additional Central Armed Police Forces in Meghalaya after the completion of Bihar elections since, at present, there is no force available for deployment.
However, the deployment of additional Central forces, without a proactive security strategy by the State Government, will only yield sub-optimal results, the official said.
“It is submitted that, only when the State government comes up with a concrete action plan to improve law and order, with the full backing of political leadership, there can be significant improvement in law and order situation in a particular state”, Singh said in the affidavit filed on October 19 in connection with the pending case on bandhs called by militant outfits in Meghalaya coupled with violent incidents which often paralyses life especially in Garo Hills.
The official said the most successful counter insurgency campaigns in India have been led by the state governments with the Central Government supplementing their efforts. “The three specific examples of Tripura, which conducted systematic counter insurgency campaign resulting in appreciable improvement in its law and order situation; Punjab, which defeated militancy through state-led campaign; and Andhra Pradesh, which tamed the Maoist insurgency, highlights this fact,” the official said.
The MHA also made it clear that in a serious insurgency situation the Central government also has a crucial role to supplement the State government’s efforts by providing Central Paramilitary Forces and other security related assistance through central schemes. The Ministry of Home Affairs has consistently provided both Central Armed Police Forces as well as financial assistance under difference heads to Meghalaya so that the law and order situation in the State improves, the official said.
Singh pointed out that Rs.32.18 crore has been provided during 2010-11 to 2014-15 for modernization of State Police and the amount was Rs.3.48 in 2015-16.
In addition, Rs.72.82 crore has been provided during 2010-11 to 2015-16 for security related expenditure and another Rs.5.62 crore was released till September 30 this year out of a total amount of Rs.8.897 crore approved for the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & System project.
Besides, DoNER has provided Rs.368 crore during the last five years to Meghalaya and so far Rs.17 crore has been provided in the current financial year under NLCPR scheme for various infrastructure projects prioritized by Meghalaya government which includes Rs.4.63 crore released in June 2015 against the approved cost of Rs.12.85 crore for the State Police project at Baghmara in South Garo Hills. Besides, a proposal for financial assistance for the State Police project at Tura in West Garo Hills at an estimated cost of Rs.13 crore is under process in DoNER.
“It is incumbent upon the State government to ensure that this assistance is judiciously used to improve the security infrastructure in the State,” he added.
Moreover, the MHA has deployed Central Armed Police Forces for counter-insurgency operations and the level of deployment in Meghalaya has increased over the years. While the level of deployment was 22 Companies in 2012, 28 Companies were deployed in 2015.
In addition, the MHA has also funded raising four India Reserve Battalions by Meghalaya. A proposal to further raise two more Battalions in Meghalaya is also under examination. “But, the State Government has to effectively utilize the Central Armed Police Forces in counter-insurgency operations since they work under the directions of the local police, who have to provide the requisite leadership,” the official added.
Currently in Meghalaya 79 companies of Central Armed Police Forces have been deployed by the Ministry of Home Affairs, out of which 54 companies are performing border guarding duties and remaining 25 companies are deployed in the State for internal security duties.
Besides, six teams of CoBRA are also deployed in the State in order to supplement the efforts of the State government for maintaining peace, law and order.