Rajnath visits Purno Sangma’s residence in city
SHILLONG: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday admitted that there was a need to strengthen security along the international border in the Northeastern region to curb smuggling of arms.
“We are trying to ensure border security through all possible means and to curb cross-border terrorism in the region,” Singh said.
Singh made the statement while reacting to a query on Maoists receiving arms through Myanmar and Bangladesh.
The Home Minister arrived in Shillong on a two-day visit to attend the 181st Raising Day of Assam Rifles.
“We (Home ministry) will discuss with chief ministers of the Northeastern states to check the smuggling of arms from across the international border and to other states in the country,” he said.
“We will provide whatever assistance Meghalaya Government needs in this connection,” he said.
Referring to the issue of militancy, Singh said that the  Centre was ready for talks with insurgent groups in the Northeast if they shun violence.
“I want to appeal to them to shun the path of violence and join the mainstream. The government is ready to hold talks with them if they give up violence without any condition,” he said.
The statement of the Union Home Minister assumes significance since two major outfits of the state GNLA and HNLC have already  expressed their willingness for talks with the Government.
Soon after landing in the Assam Rifles helipad, Singh drove down to Late Purno Sangma’s residence to meet the members of the bereaved family.
At the helipad, the Union Home Minister was welcomed by Meghalaya Home minister Roshan Warjri and other senior Government and Assam Rifles officials.
During the 20-minute meeting at Sangma’s family home, Singh spoke to the late leader’s wife Soradini Sangma, sons James and Conrad and expressed his deep respect for the former Speaker, who passed away in Delhi on March 4.
