Will not withdraw forces from Garo Hills: Sangma
December 6th, 2011 - 12:22 am ICT by IANSShillong, Dec 5 (IANS) A fortnight after the abduction of a government official by suspected Garo rebels, the Meghalaya government Monday said it would not withdraw central forces from the insurgency-ravaged areas of Garo Hills.
Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said Monday: “We will not withdraw the operations or central forces though the GNLA (Garo National Liberation Army) has resorted to all pressure tactics.”
On Nov 21, the GNLA abducted Dadenggre Block Development Officer (BDO) P.K. Boro and demanded withdrawal of the central forces from Garo Hills. The whereabouts of the official are still unknown.
Emerging out of his office chamber after chairing the State Security Commission (SSC) meeting, Chief Minister Sangma said the commission has reviewed the law and order situation in Garo Hills and decided to strengthen the security apparatus to tackle the GNLA.
He said the government has decided to strengthen the police stations and upgrade the police outposts in the insurgency affected areas in the western range of the state.
Asked if the government proposed to invite the GNLA for a dialogue, the chief ninister said, “Certain suggestions are being made and discussed. But the government won’t act promptly on this.”
However, the opposition Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) felt that the government should offer an olive branch to the GNLA to ensure peace in Garo Hills.
The GNLA has been demanding for withdrawal of central forces - two units of Combat Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) commandos and five companies of Border Security Force (BSF) troopers - ever since the troopers were deployed in Garo Hills area in July.
The outfit had set a deadline for the Meghalaya government to withdraw the central forces from Garo Hills, failing which the outfit will execute the abducted BDO.
The GNLA, one of the five Garo rebel groups, is headed by police officer-turned-rogue Champion R. Sangma and is fighting for a sovereign “Garoland” in western Meghalaya.
Over 20 people, including security personnel, have been killed while more than 10 people were abducted for ransom in the area in the last one year by GNLA rebels.
- Meghalaya rebels free traders, official untraced - Dec 02, 2011
- Rebels free Meghalaya official after 34 days - Dec 24, 2011
- Meghalaya rebels set conditions for releasing official - Nov 23, 2011
- No trace of kidnapped official in Meghalaya - Nov 28, 2011
- Meghalaya rebels set conditions for releasing official (Lead) - Nov 24, 2011
- Meghalaya launches operation to rescue abducted official - Nov 22, 2011
- Suspected Meghalaya rebels abduct official, traders - Nov 21, 2011
- Garo rebels demand withdrawal of central forces - Aug 04, 2011
- Meghalaya rebel chief nabbed in Bangladesh : Police - Nov 25, 2011
- Centre unlikely to accede to Garoland, says G.K. Pillai - Feb 14, 2012
- Garo rebels target police party, no casualties - Apr 27, 2012
- Determined to end Garo terror outfit: Chidambaram - Feb 19, 2012
- GNLA sets conditions to free abducted engineers - Jan 28, 2012
- Fierce gunfight after rebels attack Meghalaya police officer - Feb 28, 2012
- Two civilians killed, abducted manager untraced in Meghalaya - Jan 18, 2012
Tags: bdo, border security force, boro, chief minister, combat battalion, garo hills, government official, mukul, national liberation army, nationalist congress party, ncp, olive branch, outposts, police stations, pressure tactics, rebel groups, security apparatus, security commission, shillong, state security