SHILLONG, January 10 (PTI): A Ministry of Home Affairs team today visited the ethnic-violence-hit areas along the Assam-Meghalaya border and said that the clashes appeared to be “well-planned.” The team, led by joint secretary Shambu Singh said the clashes appeared “well-planned” and did not rule out the hand of “underground groups.”
Singh ruled out fresh deployment of army but said the Centre was considering sending more paramilitary forces after holding talks with officials of East Garo Hills and Goalpara administration at Resubelpara circuit house in Meghalaya. He said around 50,000 people have been displaced in the clashes between Garo and Rabha groups that began on January 1 and efforts would be made to rehabilitate them at the earliest.
“There is no need of fresh deployment of army. The existing army troopers deployed for counter-insurgency operations along the border would provide logistic support to the paramilitary,” Singh told reporters. Hours before the Central team arrived in Resubelpara, heavy firing was reported from the Belbari and Babukhola areas in Goalpara, just adjacent to the Meghalaya border, early morning today.
The shots were fired from AKs and SLR rifles, a police official said, adding the administration was awaiting confirmation as to what had happened. In New Delhi, Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma today submitted a representation to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh apprising him about the situation. Sangma sought Central intervention saying steps taken by Assam government to contain the violence on its side were not adequate.
Related story in p5
Singh ruled out fresh deployment of army but said the Centre was considering sending more paramilitary forces after holding talks with officials of East Garo Hills and Goalpara administration at Resubelpara circuit house in Meghalaya. He said around 50,000 people have been displaced in the clashes between Garo and Rabha groups that began on January 1 and efforts would be made to rehabilitate them at the earliest.
“There is no need of fresh deployment of army. The existing army troopers deployed for counter-insurgency operations along the border would provide logistic support to the paramilitary,” Singh told reporters. Hours before the Central team arrived in Resubelpara, heavy firing was reported from the Belbari and Babukhola areas in Goalpara, just adjacent to the Meghalaya border, early morning today.
The shots were fired from AKs and SLR rifles, a police official said, adding the administration was awaiting confirmation as to what had happened. In New Delhi, Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma today submitted a representation to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh apprising him about the situation. Sangma sought Central intervention saying steps taken by Assam government to contain the violence on its side were not adequate.
Related story in p5