Intervene on deteriorating law and order: Opposition to Meghalaya governor

The opposition Meghalaya People's Front (MPF) Tuesday sought the intervention of Governor K.K. Paul on the deteriorating law and order situation in the state due to insurgency and an agitation over the illegal immigrants issue.

"There is total breakdown of law and order in the state in terms of insurgency-related incidents like kidnappings and people, including security forces, being killed by rebels in the Garo Hills region," party secretary James Sangma told journalists.

At least 46 people, including nine security personnel, have lost their lives to insurgency-related activities since January, he said.

Sangma criticised the ruling Congress-led government for deciding to raise a special multi-task force to deal with the insurgency problem.

He said the government should have explored all options rather than looking at only one aspect, which was stepping-up police action and counter-insurgency operations.

MPF spokesperson Paul Lyngdoh said: "This is not merely a law and order problem and mere policing will not help.

"We have seen that there are various instances where there is clear nexus between politicians belonging to the ruling party with members of insurgent outfits."

On to the ongoing agitation by 14 pressure groups demanding the introduction of inner-line permit, a British-era law to contain migration of outsiders to the state, the MPF criticised the Mukul Sangma-led government for remaining unmoved over the issue.

"We all know that for the past two and a half months, agitations have been taking place. It is very unfortunate that the government is still indifferent to this whole scenario, and no efforts have been made to reach out to the agitating bodies in a bid to bring normalcy in the state," Sangma said.

Meghalaya, particularly the Khasi-Jaintia Hills region, has witnessed several cases of arson since Sep 2 after talks between Chief Minister Mukul Sangma and pro-Inner Line Permit (ILP) pressure groups reached a dead end.

More than 80 pro-ILP activists have been arrested. The statewide agitation has already claimed the lives of two citizens. Last week, unidentified assailants set ablaze tea stall owner Bisheshwar Das, 45, after lobbing a petrol bomb inside his tea shop in Shillong.