SHILLONG: Meghalaya police have claimed to have finally contained the proscribed Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) in the western part of the state, asserting that the militant outfit’s “chapter was now over”.
Talking to media persons here recently, director general of police, SB Singh said, “The GNLA have been effectively contained in the western part of the state and we believe their chapter is over.”
Stating that there is no active senior cadre of the group, the DGP said one or two cadres of the outfit are in Bangladesh.
Reacting to a query on the ULFA (Independent), which was providing support to the GNLA during its peak period, Singh said that with the containment of the Garo outfit, the ULFA (I) too have also been contained.
On the HNLC, the police chief reiterated that the activities of outfit too have been contained for a very long time and they have some cadres in Bangladesh who make their presence felt on social media occasionally.
Singh said Meghalaya police has always been vigilant even as he pointed out that the activities of the banned groups could not have been suppressed without the participation of the public, church leaders and civil society. “We are thankful to them for their cooperation,” he said.
Asked about the recent trend of militant groups making social media their favourite mouthpiece, the DGP said the cyber wing of the police was active and have also taken up a number of cases.
Modernisation
Meghalaya police is taking steps to modernise police stations both in rural and urban areas of the state.
“We have plans to modernise police stations both in the urban and rural areas. But we will give more attention to rural areas,” DGP Singh said.
He also informed that a presentation has been made in this regard before the chief minister and home minister.
While it is seen that most of the police stations in the city are in satisfactory condition, many beat houses still lack proper infrastructure with some continuing to function from small wooden rooms.
