Govt sounds security alert

H.D.R. Lyngdoh and Sohan D. Shira

Shillong, July 18 : The Meghalaya government today sounded a “security alert” throughout the state after the nascent Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) reportedly threatened to detonate explosives in the city and other areas of Garo hills if the ongoing combing operations against the outfit were not stopped immediately.
The self-styled “commander-in-chief” of GNLA, Sohan D. Shira, reportedly called up media houses today and allegedly threatened to detonate explosives in Shillong, Tura, Baghmara and Williamnagar if the government did not immediately put an end to the combing operations against the outfit.
The government has engaged commandos belonging to the elite Combat Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) and the BSF personnel to flush out GNLA militants from Garo hills.
These forces are assisting Meghalaya’s Special Weapons And Tactics (SWAT) team to arrest militants who have been highly active in Garo hills, especially in East and South Garo Hills districts.
Shira reportedly said, “It appears that the government is not serious about solving the problem. Instead, it is intensifying it by roping in outside forces in Garo hills.”
Asking the government to immediately stop the combing operations, Shira allegedly threatened to detonate explosives in Police Bazar and Iewduh (Burra Bazar) in Shillong, Tura in West Garo Hills, Baghmara in South Garo Hills and Williamnagar in East Garo Hills.
Police Bazar or Khyndailad and Iewduh are the busiest shopping centres in the city.
State home minister H.D.R. Lyngdoh said directions had been given to police to ascertain whether the caller was Shira himself or was it simply a hoax call.
“We will ascertain who the real caller was as it could be anti-social elements who simply want to create panic,” Lyngdoh said.
However, the home minister also said police officials had been directed to tighten their vigil throughout the state, especially in Shillong, Baghmara and Williamnagar.
He also said the intelligence gathering unit had been instructed to gear up.
Tomorrow morning, Lyngdoh will meet senior police officials to review the situation.
Last week, two units of CoBRA commandos were deployed in Garo hills as part of the combing operations against GNLA militants.
The CoBRA is a special force that was raised to tackle Maoists in the country.
The commandos are now being used to combat the GNLA, especially in East and South Garo Hills districts.
The GNLA, which first featured in 2009, was formed by former deputy superintendent of police, Champion R. Sangma and former ANVC leader Sohan D. Shira.
The GNLA was alleged to have close operational relationships with other insurgent groups such as Ulfa and the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB).