Tura, Feb 12: Meghalaya’s chief opposition whip James K Sangma termed
yesterday’s bomb blast in Williamnagar as an act of cowardice. He
blamed the ruling Congress led government of Mukul Sangma as weak,
which is the cause of rising insurgency in Garo hills.
Terming utter chaos in the law & order situation of Garo hills, he
sought for a probe into politician – militant nexus. He said,
“Opposition will raise the issue of law & order problem in Garo hills
in the upcoming assembly”.
Castigating Mukul Sangma’s government for failing to control the
militancy, he sought for additional deployment of security in
sensitive areas of Garo hills. He was of the view that people in Garo
hills have to live in constant fear.
He remarked that if the situation continues to remain the same, Garo
hills will be branded as a ‘disturbed’ region.
“It is high time that the government takes concrete step to look into
the law and order problem, otherwise the situation will turn out to be
worse”, said Sangma.
He is of the view that the blast at NRL petrol pump in Williamnagar is
an indication that the outfits are very active and can unleash terror
in any sensitive area.
Making an appeal to the militants to shun violence, he urged the
government to negotiate peace parley.
He even said that the present peace agreement, which is being
discussed with A’chik National Volunteers Council (ANVC) and its
breakaway faction ANVC-B will not bore fruits, unless and until all
outfits are brought under discussion.
The National People Party leader said that the delay dallying by the
government in negotiating peace has been the cause for the birth of
new outfits in the region.
Social welfare minister, Deborah C Marak, who is an MLA from
Williamnagar, condemned the blast. She said, “People should unite in
condemning act of terror”. She hoped that the peace agreement, which
is being discussed with the two faction of ANVC will yield results in
turning around the situation.
She remarked that the government is committed to root out insurgency
by initiating development and welfare programme.
Meanwhile, police has ruled out the involvement of Garo National
Liberation Army (GNLA) in yesterday blast. East Garo Hills SP, Jerry
Marak said, “We suspect the blast was triggered by United A’chik
Liberation Army (UALA) and ANVC-B”.
This indicates that the blast was the handiwork of newly formed outfit
– United People’s Revolutionary Alliance (UPRA). However, the police
are tight lipped. “We are probing the incident and would not like to
speculate anything right now”, he said.
The petrol pump, which is located in the heart of town, adjacent to
Civil Hospital in Williamnagar had close circuit CCTV. However, due to
malfunctioning of the cameras, the police have failed to get the vital
clues.
The blast took place around 8:30 pm yesterday damaging one of the
pumps. However, there was no casualty.
There have been three blasts since December in petrol pumps and
interestingly all on 11th day of the month.
On 11th December at Chasingre petrol pump near Tura, on 11th January
at a petrol pump at Hawakhana in Tura and on 11th February at
Williamnagar.
Police say that yesterday low intensity blast was IED and 40 meters
wires was used to detonate. Initial indications are that the blast was
done to scare rather than cause damage.(SP News)
