"The fact that these banned outfits have called for bandhs and threatened civilians reflect that pressure is mounting on them", Mukul told reporters.
He said, "bandhs and hartals are political strategies adopted by political parties... They (GNLA) are political and are under pressure".
The one week GNLA-sponsored bandh in three western Garo Hills districts entered the third day today and normal life was affected in the entire Garo Hills region.
The GNLA had last week called a bandh at Ampati and Selsella, the home constituencies of Chief Minister Mukul Sangma and Leader of Opposition Conrad K Sangma, respectively, demanding halt of counter insurgency operations against the outfit in the Garo Hills region.
Maintaining the stand taken by his government, Mukul said, "It is the duty of the government to neutralise all outlawed organisations in the state (in particular the GNLA) which is indulging in criminal activities like intimidation, kidnapping, extortion and killing of civilians."
However, the Chief Minister said GNLA cadres who want to surrender can avail the opportunity to claim the surrender package offered by the government.
"As some of the cadres have been sending their feelers to surrender, let this be facilitated and let them avail the opportunity", he said. PTI JOP RG
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