By IANS,
Shillong : The Meghalaya government Monday said it will not hold talks with the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA), a terrorist group operating in the three impoverished districts of Garo Hills in western part of the state.
“Now that the GNLA has been declared a terrorist organisation the option of talks is closed and we don’t have intentions to talks with them,” Home Minister H.D.R. Lyngdoh told journalists.
“The only option for them (GNLA) is that to surrender unconditionally, and If they don’t lay down arms we would intensify our operations to nail them,” the home minister added.
The central government had declared the GNLA, a rebel outfit operating in western part of Meghalaya, a terrorist outfit under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act due to its growing terror activities in certain parts of Meghalaya.
Lyngdoh said that government has not decided to take the help of the Indian Army in neutralising the GNLA in Garo Hills. “At the moment, the Army’s help is not required and the state and paramilitary forces deployed in Garo Hills were capable enough to handle the situation,” he said.
CoBRA (Combat Battalion for Resolute Action) and Meghalaya’s Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) commandos have been deployed to counter the GNLA terrorists.
The GNLA, which is headed by police officer-turned outlaw Champion R. Sangma, has unleashed a reign of terror in the three impoverished districts of Garo Hills in the western Meghalaya.