SHILLONG: Chief Minister Mukul Sangma had reiterated his government’s stand on the High Court’s suggestion on enforcement of AFSPA to neutralise insurgent activities in Garo Hills saying that the state government was capable of dealing with the insurgency situation in Garo Hills.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, the Chief Minister said t”We are capable of dealing with the insurgency problem in the state. Unlike in the past, we have busted and dislocated joint training camps of the ULFA, GNLA and the NDFP in the thick jungles of Garo Hills”.
“The government is addressing with the problem of insurgency at the root level. We have embarked a number of sustainable and livelihood programmes besides setting up of residential schools to thwart the school dropout problem,” Sangma said.
The Chief Minister said that the government had also shared the data to the Centre regarding the large scale surrender of militants, their arrests and number of militants who were killed during encounters for the last few years.
“Hence, the stand of the Government is abundantly clear that we are capable in dealing with the situation,” Sangma asserted.
On the series of kidnappings, the Chief Minister said that since there is availability of arms with militants and miscreants due to the porous nature of the border, the kidnapping cases are on rise and the Centre should intervene since it involves international border.
Commenting on the current protest of people of Garo Hills against any move to impose AFSPA, the Chief Minister sad that the opposition of the people itself reflected that the people have faith in the State Government in dealing with militancy.
Peace talks
The Chief Minister also said that while talks with the banned militants needed the approval of the Centre, the state government has responded to a offers made by many militant outfits.
He said the government was working out appointment of interlocutors for peace talks with these groups.
While talks with UALA militant outfit is currently under progress, another group AMEF has already expressed it desire to hold talks.
Politico-militant nexus probe
The Chief Minister, meanwhile, has revealed that he was blamed for initiating probe into the politico-militant nexus involving his own cabinet minister at a time when there is fresh demand for a high level probe into the matter. )
“The CM was blamed for following the law when investigation was carried out against an individual minister of my cabinet”, the Chief Minister told reporters on Tuesday. He, however, did not mention the name of Social Welfare Minister Deborah Marak, who was chargesheeted along with Tennydard Marak by police for their alleged links with GNLA.
Recently, the independent legislator Saleng Sangma petitioned the Centre for initiating NIA/CBI probe into the politico-militant nexus in Garo Hills.
When asked about the demand for probe, the Chief Minister said “the people who talk about this should take the issue head on with appropriate evidence. Why don’t they provide definite back ground to substantiate the claim”.
The Chief Minister also questioned as to why no member raised the issue in the autumn session of the Assembly. “The Government has not interfered into the process of law and the government has demonstrated its seriousness in dealing with the issue”, Sangma said.
