SHILLONG: In the wake of the IED blast at Williamnagar on Saturday last, Chief Minister Mukul Sangma held a high level meeting here on Monday to review the law and order situation in the districts of Garo Hills.
During the meeting, the Chief Minister was briefed about the current situation and also informed of the operations launched by police in Garo Hills.
Calling for preventive measures to be put in place, Sangma stressed on the need to involve the common people in policing.
“Appropriate advisories need to issued to all concerned to take note of any unattended baggage or suspicious movement of suspected militants and inform the police immediately about the same,” Sangma said adding that the police also need to have dedicated quick response teams which can immediately respond to such situations.
Road communication, the Chief Minister observed, needs to be made safe and special precaution should be taken against abandoned vehicles along the roadside.
He also cautioned that all wings of administration should keep an eye on the visitors to their offices and conduct appropriate internal security audits from time to time.
While condemning the Williamnagar incident once again, the Chief Minister directed that proposals be prepared for covering all district headquarters under the “safe secure cities and towns” programme.
The Chief Minister also directed that all pending proposals/issues with the Centre be made known to him so as to ensure that they are aggressively followed up at the highest level.
Meanwhile, Police Officers briefed the Chief Minister about specific measures being resorted to by the forces after the IED blast. They also briefed the Chief Minister about the existing nexus between the GNLA and the ULFA.
The meeting was attended by S.B.Singh, Additonal .Director General of Police, (Law & Order) Meghalaya, G.H.P Raju, Inspector General of Police (Law & Order), F.D. Sangma, Inspector General of Police (SB/Bdr) among others.
All nine injured out of danger
All the nine people who were injured in the IED blast in Williamnagar are now out of danger.
Informing this over the phone on Monday, East Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner CVD Diengdoh rubbished rumours that one person had succumbed to his injuries.
He also said that the situation in Williamnagar is back to normal and the market remained open on Monday.
Stating that the District Administration is taking all security precautions, he said that additional deployment of police personnel has been made at the market even as security was intensified in the town.
Reacting to a query about compensation, he said that the District Administration will examine the matter and write to the State Government accordingly.
Security Advisory
With a view to ensure effective and quick response during times of crisis the police have urged the citizens of Tura not to touch or lift unclaimed baggage, containers and similar suspicious looking objects laying abandoned in front of shops and public places. If any such suspicious objects are sighted, the general public can inform the police helpline numbers, 03651- 222111, 90893-98451, 84158- 97291, and 87300- 65429, immediately.
