Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 137/12

ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF CHIEF MINISTERS ON INTERNAL SECURITY

Shillong, April 16, 2012: The annual Conference of Chief Ministers on Internal Security was held today the 16th April, 2012 at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi. The delegation from Meghalaya was led by the Chief Minister, Dr. Mukul Sangma.

Participating in the deliberations, the Chief Minister, Dr. Mukul Sangma discussed the security situation in the State and also analysed the root causes of militancy in the State. He highlighted the need for a multipronged and holistic approach, including development interventions for solving the problems of militancy.

He pointed out that the operations against the GNLA militants have entered a crucial phase and the State police has been able to achieve several successes in the fight against militancy in the State.

The Chief Minister highlighted the need for greater central assistance for speedy modernization of the State Police and procurement of modern weaponry and state-of-the-art equipment to upgrade the State Police to meet the challenges of modern policing. The CM also pointed out that some of the militant groups still have their camps across the international border and the militant outfits have been not only taking shelter across the border but also smuggling in arms, ammunition and explosive devices. He highlighted the importance of strengthening the international border to better manage the challenges of terrorism. He underlined the need for economic development of the people living along the border region and to enable them to have access to better means of livelihood through aggressive promotion of trade and commerce, opening of more border hats etc. in order to better empower our citizens living on the border region, so that they become partners in the security effort. He pointed out that Meghalaya Government would be soon setting up the State Anti-Infiltration Directorate as a second line of defence against illegal immigration.

The Chief Minister drew the attention of the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister to the instances of alleged profiling of youth from the North Eastern States during the recent visit of the Chinese Premier to Delhi. There were instances in which youth from the North Eastern States were mistaken for Tibetans, which, the CM said, indicated a lack of sensitivity on the part of the Delhi Police. He called upon the Central Government to ensure that youth from the North Eastern States are recruited to the Delhi Police so that persons representing different regions of the country bring about better sensitivity and understanding of the diversity that characterises India.

While stressing the need for strong measures for coordinating counter terrorism efforts at the Centre, the Chief Minister also stressed that in a country like ours with huge diversity, the importance of our federal structure needs to be appreciated in the right perspective.