Helicopters can be used for logistics: DGP Mehta
SHILLONG: Meghalaya police chief Rajiv Mehta on Friday disclosed that the State Police was not averse to the idea of using helicopters for surveillance, air dropping of police personnel and rations in their fight against militants in Garo Hills.
“If the Ministry of Home Affairs provides us with helicopters, we are willing to use them for logistics,” the DGP told The Shillong Times.
He, however, made it clear that the helicopters, if at all used, will not be pressed into direct operations, but would be meant only for surveillance of inaccessible areas and also to air drop rations and personnel in the areas of operations.
The State government has been contemplating availing helicopters for logistics purposes considering the difficult terrain in Garo Hills.
Mehta also admitted that the difficult terrain in Garo Hills makes it impossible for the security forces to penetrate into the deep areas which result in militants getting the upper hand.
“We find the inaccessible terrain in Garo Hills more difficult to penetrate than most areas in Chhattisgarh where the security forces are fighting the Maoists,” the DGP added.
Caution on fake encounters
The DGP has also cautioned the policemen not to resort to any violation of human rights while carrying out operations against militants.
There have been allegations of fake encounter killings in Garo Hills which prompted the Government to carry out magisterial probes into two such incidents.
According to Mehta, normally the police forces in Meghalaya do not resort to fake encounters as it would be a matter of ‘professional suicide’ for them to resort to such acts.
“Who wants to antagonize the people as the police forces have to mostly depend on the people in their fight against militants,” Mehta said.