W Jaintia admn asks arms dealers to deposit weapons

The administration in Meghalaya's West Jaintia Hills district today directed arms holders to deposit their weapons with the police to prevent any untoward incident in the next one month, an official said.
"We have asked all licensed arms holders to deposit their weapons with the police for safe custody till December 12 next month," District Magistrate Donny M Wahlang said in an order.
He said the order was necessitated after reports expressed apprehension due to certain groups carrying arms.
West Jaintia Hills district in Meghalaya is one of the districts with highest number of licensed arms holders numbering around 3000 plus, the magistrate said.

The law and order situation in the district and in neighbouring East Jaintia Hills district are not at its best in the past seven months after the National Green Tribunal banned mining and transportation of coal for their negative impact on environment.
The district magistrate also directed the police to tighten vigil and conduct proper check on trucks.
"No trucks transporting cement should cross the district without proper papers from competent authorities. They should not also cover their vehicles with tarpaulin," Wahlang said in another prohibitory order.
In the past one month, at least 20 persons were arrested in the state for illegally transporting coal from East and West Jaintia Hills districts in violation of the NGT order passing off the mineral as cement with tarpaulin cover.