Meghalaya sounds red alert ahead of I-Day

Shillong, Aug 12 (UNI) The Meghalaya government has sounded red alert to prevent any attempts by militants to run operations ahead of the Independence Day celebrations.

State Director General of Police B K Dey Sawian here today said two additional companies of central para-military force and state police battalions, along with bomb squads, have been pressed into service in this regard.

''We have alerted our security personnel stationed across the state to have peaceful Independence Day celebrations,'' the DGP told UNI.

The BSF personnel guarding the porous Indo-Bangla border were also directed to keep an extra vigil to thwart the attempts by North East-based militants to sneak into India from their hideouts in Bangladesh, he said.

There are at least 176 camps and hideouts of North East-based militant outfits entrenched inside Bangladesh.

The Liberation of Achik Elite Force (LAEF), a tribal Garo militant outfit, had called a 12-hour bandh on August 15 from 0600 to 1800 hours, to boycott the August 15 celebrations in the three districts of Garo Hills.

However, the banned Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council, which had been boycotting India's Independence and Republic Day celebrations for years, is yet to make a call.

Intelligence inputs hinted of possible attacks by HNLC and LAEF militants, Mr Sawian said.

''We are prepared to meet any eventuality and we have put extra alert along the inter-state border with Assam in view of the ULFA and tribal Karbi militants attacks on Hindi-speaking people in Karbi Anglong areas of Assam,'' he added.

Chief Minister D D Lapang reviewed the over all law and order situation in the state with Chief Secretary Ranjan Chatterjee, the DGP and other senior government officials, to celebrate the 60th Independence Day.

Police commandoes also checked all vehicles passing through the city and Meghalaya-Assam border.

A number of LAEF and HNLC militants were arrested following raids in various places in the city and several incriminating documents containing instructions for making Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) were seized.

''The arrested militants have revealed of their plans to disrupt the Independence Day celebrations in the state,'' a police official said.

Meanwhile, Mr Lapang appealed to the people of the state to celebrate their independence fearlessly.

UNI