Meghalaya beefs up security for I-Day

Shillong, Aug 14 (UNI) Security measures have been tightened in Meghalaya following various militant outfits' call to boycott the Independence Day celebrations in the region.

A high alert has been sounded in Garo Hills, in view of intelligence reports that the banned United Liberation Front of Asom plan to disrupt the I-Day celebration.

Chief Minister J D Rymbai will hoist the tri-colour at Jawaharlal Nehru Sports Complex tomorrow.

The Naga regiment along with the state police and para-military forces has launched its ''Operation Drill'' in the susceptible areas of Garo Hills bordering Asom, official sources told UNI here. Garo Hills have been used by the ULFA and other ultra groups as their safe corridor to sneak inside their training camps in Bangladesh.

To prevent this the Border Security Force has directed its personnel to keep an extra vigil.

In the state capital, prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPC were clamped in view of the 24-hour bandh called by the banned Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council to boycott tomorrow's celebration.

Police commandos were seen conducting random checks of all vehicles passing through the city to thwart the movement of any militant.

The bandh will be effective from 1800 hrs today to 1800 hrs tomorrow.

Meanwhile, various security forces, police, school students and cultural troups went on with their rehearsals at the Jawaharlal Nehru Sports Complex for tomorrow's parade.

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