SHILLONG, Feb 7: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Monday said one or two incidents do not reflect the law-and-order situation of the state.
Reacting to a question on the looting of a petrol pump in the state capital, he said such incidents happen and the government has been doing everything to ensure they don’t.
“But it is wrong to say a few incidents reflect the law-and-order situation in the state. Law and order is a very vast subject,” Sangma said.
Admitting that such incidents should be minimised, he said people involved in crimes should be caught and brought to justice. “We will do our best to ensure such incidents do not take place,” he added.
The chief minister said the government was aware of and concerned about a few juveniles joining a banned organisation. “Our intelligence network is very strong. This is how we are able to nab them immediately after an IED blast,” he said.
Sangma said the government was trying to engage with the youth in different ways and has accordingly decided to come out with a youth policy.
“We will definitely take steps to ensure that the youth are not drawn or misguided into terror activities,” he said.
On the alleged involvement of a pressure group in the recent IED blast at Police Bazar, the chief minister said he would not be able to comment since he is yet to receive a detailed report on the incident. “Once I get the report, I will get back to you,” he said.
Intelligence officials had revealed that the name of a prominent pressure group had come up during the interrogation of three persons arrested in connection with the Police Bazar blast. The group could possibly be linked with subversive activities.
The three had collected the detonators for the IED from a unit of the pressure group from Nongkya village in Umsning Block of Ri-Bhoi district.