Politician-militant nexus not ruled out: Mukul Sangma

Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma Tuesday said the nexus between some politicians and rebel outfits operating in the state cannot be ruled out.

"We cannot rule out any nexus with any politician in the state. Security agencies are monitoring and verifying such nexus and no politician will be insulated from the purview of the law if such nexus is stablished," Sangma said about rebel outfits.

"Whenever such information is brought to the notice of the government with sufficient evidence, the law will take its own course and no politician will be insinuated from the purview of law," he added.

Sangma said the politician-rebel nexus is not confined only to one political party. It can be with many other political parties.

"This possibility cannot be ruled out. We have certain inputs which give enough reason to the government to verify and investigate," the chief minister added.

Sangma said police are still investigating these inputs and whenever these will be substantiated with evidence, the law of the land will be enforced.

Sangma's statement assumes significance following the opposition Meghalaya People's Front (MPF) demand for a probe into the nexus between politicians and rebel outfits in the state.

An MPF delegation Monday headed by Leader of Opposition in the assembly Donkupar Roy Monday called on Governor K.K. Paul and handed over a memorandum seeking a probe into the alleged nexus between the members of the ruling Congress-led government and the insurgents.

"It is an admitted fact that the morale of the police force has been badly eroded by this nexus...," Sangma said, adding that the law and order situation in an otherwise peaceful state like Meghalaya has also drawn the attention of the prime minister and the home minister.

At least 46 people, including nine security personnel, have been killed in acts of insurgency since January in Garo Hills region.

Meghalaya, especially the Garo Hill region, is being used as a safe haven for various northeast-based militants groups, including the National Socialist Council of Nagaland - Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM), the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), and the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB).

With the outlawed A'chik National Volunteers Council (ANVC) on a ceasefire agreement with the central government, the NSCN (IM) and the ULFA spawned several rebel groups with the intention of exploiting the lucrative extortion in the coal-rich areas of the Garo Hills region.

The Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA), which is fighting for a separate Garoland in the western area of Meghalaya, has links with the NSCN-IM, the ULFA and the NDFB.

Another outlawed outfit, the Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) has been demanding a sovereign Khasi homeland in Meghalaya. The outfit is currently on the backfoot as most of its cadres have surrendered to the government.