SHILLONG: The areas which are considered to be strongholds of the banned GNLA are acting as hurdles to the people and the administration to rise against militancy. Notwithstanding this, several Garo Hills districts have showed positive results during the police-public contact prorgrammes launched by the police.
The new initiative is the result of the intervention of the High Court which had even suggested the need to deploy army under the AFSPA to ensure law and order in Garo Hills.
At present, the police-public contact prorgrammes are underway in16 police stations of the five districts of Garo Hills, and this has resulted in several arrests and surrender of militants and gangs of dacoits.
However, a police official on Saturday said that while the response has been good from the people in West, North and South West Garo Hills, the feedback has been lukewarm in East and South Garo Hills as few people are coming forward in the areas which are considered GNLA strongholds. The official, meanwhile, added that in Ampati, a large number of arrests and surrenders of militants and dacoits have taken place after the initiative as a result of the support of the people.
“At the moment, the officers in charge of the police stations have been asked to meet the public every 15 days and a review of the initiative will be held after Christmas,” the official added.
Earlier on Friday, a programme was organized by police to build relation with public in the vulnerable Damal Asim area of West Garo Hills. Around 1200 people from 20 villages attended the programme.
According to police, the people took pledge to make their area crime free and held a special prayer too.
They have also formed a vigilance committee whereby 20 volunteers from each village will be nominated to perform 24- hour duty in their respective villages.
