Meghalaya not to hold talks with terrorist group: Minister
February 7th, 2012 - 12:56 am ICT by IANSShillong, Feb 6 (IANS) The Meghalaya government Monday said it will not hold talks with the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA), a terrorist group operating in the three impoverished districts of Garo Hills in western part of the state.
“Now that the GNLA has been declared a terrorist organisation the option of talks is closed and we don’t have intentions to talks with them,” Home Minister H.D.R. Lyngdoh told journalists.
“The only option for them (GNLA) is that to surrender unconditionally, and If they don’t lay down arms we would intensify our operations to nail them,” the home minister added.
The central government had declared the GNLA, a rebel outfit operating in western part of Meghalaya, a terrorist outfit under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act due to its growing terror activities in certain parts of Meghalaya.
Lyngdoh said that government has not decided to take the help of the Indian Army in neutralising the GNLA in Garo Hills. “At the moment, the Army’s help is not required and the state and paramilitary forces deployed in Garo Hills were capable enough to handle the situation,” he said.
CoBRA (Combat Battalion for Resolute Action) and Meghalaya’s Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) commandos have been deployed to counter the GNLA terrorists.
The GNLA, which is headed by police officer-turned outlaw Champion R. Sangma, has unleashed a reign of terror in the three impoverished districts of Garo Hills in the western Meghalaya.
- Rebel shutdown hits life in Meghalaya - Sep 12, 2011
- Garo rebel group GNLA declared terrorist outfit - Feb 01, 2012
- Sangma asks Garo rebels to surrender arms - Feb 08, 2012
- Meghalaya examining GNLA activities ahead of ban - Jul 21, 2011
- Centre unlikely to accede to Garoland, says G.K. Pillai - Feb 14, 2012
- GNLA sets conditions to free abducted engineers - Jan 28, 2012
- Fierce gunfight after rebels attack Meghalaya police officer - Feb 28, 2012
- Rebels free Meghalaya official after 34 days - Dec 24, 2011
- Chidambaram to review Meghalaya security situation Sunday - Feb 17, 2012
- Meghalaya Police announce reward for catching GNLA rebels - Apr 28, 2012
- Garo militants abduct 2 Meghalaya engineers - Jan 25, 2012
- Meghalaya takes precautionary steps after bomb threat - Jul 18, 2011
- Meghalaya's views sought to declare GNLA outlawed - Nov 01, 2011
- Kidnapped engineers untraced, GNLA chief escapes (Lead) - Jan 27, 2012
- Meghalay rebel leader's arrest shrouded in mystery - Nov 26, 2011
Tags: central government, cobra, combat battalion, commandos, garo hills, home minister, indian army, journalists, national liberation army, outlaw, paramilitary forces, police officer, prevention act, reign of terror, shillong, special weapons and tactics, swat, terror activities, terrorist group, terrorist organisation