Meghalaya

Shillong, Jun 26 (UNI) Meghalaya Home Minister Robert Garnett Lyngdoh today said Meghalaya and Assam have vowed to fight militancy and terrorism together.

'' Both states have agreed to fight militancy and terrorism together after militancy increased in the two states, especially along the border,'' the Home minister stated in a suo moto statement in the Assembly.

Mr Lyngdoh said, state Director General of Police William Richmond Marbaniang discussed with his Assam counterpart in detail about the present status of militant activity .

The State DGP also requested his Assam counterpart to increase security in Karbi Anglong district bordering Meghalaya. The Superintendent of Police, Karbi Anglong, also has been directed by the Assam DGP, to implement security measures in the militancy-dominated areas there.

Terming the militant activities as, ' militants and vested interest,' while trying to disturb the harmonious life-style of people residing along Meghalaya's border with Assam, the Home Minister said the government have already taken preventive measures to ensure peaceful atmosphere along the inter-state border.

Informing the House about Meghalaya's border dispute with Assam, the Home Minister, however, said the people residing along the border until recently, were living in relative peace and harmony.

The two states share a 696 km long border and most of the people residing there are indigenous Khasi-Pnar tribe of Meghalaya.

On June 10 last, two persons living in the area were assaulted by Karbi Anglong based militants in Wapung in Karbi Anglong, the Home Minister said asserting that the Karbi Anglong based militants have been harassing the residents repeatedly.

Karbi militant outfit like the United Peoples' Democratic Solidarity (UPDS) and Karbi National Volunteer's (KNV) have been active along the Meghalaya-Assam border. Recently, an armed group of the UPDS militant outfit slapped extortion notices on the Khasi-Pnar villagers.

The Meghalaya police, which was keeping a strict vigilance, intercepted the UPDS militants and killed two of its cadres. Police seized a huge cache of ammunitions, one Ak-47 rifle, one Chinese made rifle, and other incriminating documents.

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