SHILLONG, Dec 19: Former Chief Minister Mukul Sangma has asked the state government to stop the illegal mining of coal and other minerals that could fund the insurgent groups on a comeback bid.
Sangma, now the chief of the Meghalaya parliamentary party of All India Trinamool Congress (AITC), said there are inputs of such groups trying to reorganise themselves by using the illegal mining activities as their “uninterrupted sources” of money.
“The activities and movements of these anti-national forces are on. The government has to be alert in identifying all their possible sources of funding,” he said on Sunday.
Sangma said illegal mining activities, still going on despite claims to the contrary, have always topped the list of funding sources of the insurgent groups.
“The government should take all measures to ensure that illegal mining of coal and other minerals in the state are stopped forthwith,” Sangma said.
Reminding that he had cautioned the government in the last state security meeting, he said, “The government of the day should take cognisance of issues pertaining to the internal security of a state and the country.”
He also said the State Security Commission is duty-bound to ensure how the resources under the disposal of the government are best utilised in addressing the multiple concerns of the people.
