Centre urged to 'take care' of border to check arms sale

Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma today said that the Centre must "take care" of the international borders to help curb insurgents' access to illegal arms which has led to law and order problems in the North Eastern region.
"The Government of India must take care of its international borders because the problem of easy-access to arms is one of the most important factor which led to this kind of situation (law and order problems created by armed militant groups)," Sangma said in the State Assembly while replying to a debate on the Governor's address.
Citing intelligence inputs, he said, insurgent groups even get replacement of sophisticated weapons while selling their old arms at cheaper rates near the international borders.

"The recent seizure of arms in the state has indicated there are some pockets in the region from which arms are easy to get," the chief minister said.
Referring to the recent recovery of IEDs (improvised explosive devices) from Garo Hills, he said, a huge quantity of explosives were coming from many sources and spares of anti-aircraft guns were recovered too.
Stating that the problem is not confined to Meghalaya alone, he said, militancy needed a concerted effort by all the state governments in the North East along with the active participation of the Centre.
Sangma said the state government will invest more for strengthening the internal security apparatus.

He said anti-insurgent operations have been launched to neutralise the proscribed Garo National Liberation Army and other outfits, as a result of which many have surrendered.