Lyngdoh writes to Govt for funds to flush out militants

TILAK RAI

SHILLONG, JANUARY 7: Senior Cabinet Minister Hopingstone Lyngdoh has written to both Meghalaya Chief Minister F.A. Khonglam and the Union Government to sanction additional funds to enable the security forces to flush out the insurgent groups operating from the West Khasi hills district in the state.

Expressing concern over the stepped up activities of different insurgent outfits of the north-eastern region, Lyngdoh has reportedly pleaded with the Union Home Minister L.K. Advani to provide a special sanction for tackling the militant groups operating from the area.

Lyngdoh is yet to get a response from the Centre.

Pursuing his agenda of clearing the forest of insurgents, the minister has also pleaded with Chief Minister Khonglam to construct an approach road from Shalang to Nongriangmaw to Nongjri and Nonglyngdoh to Durangre.

His contention is that as most of the area is inaccessible due to absence of roads, the forests in that areas are just the idle place for the insurgent to set up there training camps.

In 1999-2000, security forces had launched a massive operation to clear the forest of the insurgents.

But they had to withdraw soon after as the dense forests and lack of roads proved a hindrance.

Again, in 2000-2001, the state police undertook another operation but failed due to the same reason.

The areas is infested with NSCN, Bodo militants and A’chik National Volunteer Council (ANVC).

The NSCN provides arm training to these two insurgent groups. They have also set up training camps for them.

As the areas is rich in coal and limestone, the insurgent groups extort money from coal-laden trucks, mine owners and even some of the villages.

Police said that 75 per cent of the money thus collected goes to the NSCN while the remaining 25 per cent is kept by the ANVC and Bodo militants.

The NSCN keeps the lion’s share as a fee for providing the two insurgent groups with training and weapons.