Low police-population-area ratio big challenge for Meghalaya

Shillong, Mar 23 : Meghalaya government today said the rising militant activities and a low police-population-area ratio posed a 'big challenge'. "We recognise that there is a need to improve our police-population ratio and to stengthen the police network so that the problem (militancy) can be nipped at the initial stage," Home Minister H D R Lyngdoh said in reply to a cut motion moved by opposition NCP MLA J M Marak in the assembly. "Since January 2010, the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) had killed 25 civilians and 10 police personnel besides injuring three civilians," Lyngdoh said. During the same period, 31 militants were killed, 156 militants arrested, 65 surrendered and 93 arms recovered, he said. The Home Minister, however, said the law and order situation in the state has remained "stable" inspite of multiple challenges posed. "The 433-km international border with Bangladesh poses serious problems such as influx and existence of bases of some of NE militant organisation in Bangladesh," Lyngdoh said, adding his government is "committed to complete fencing along the border at a past pace." On influx, the Home Minister said, 2800 foreign nationals were detected in 2011, of which 156 were prosecuted and 2644 were pushed back directly. The Home Minister said the Centre accorded sanction of Rs 50 crore from the 13th Finance Commission for the setting up of a Meghalaya Police Academy, aimed at developing it as a centre of excellence for police training. Meghalaya has 13,394 police personnel...which works out to 110 policemen for a lakh population and one police covering an area of 6.83 square kilometer, Lyngdoh said.