Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma today directed the police to have a 'deeper' probe into the possible nexus between banned militant outfit Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) and the Khasi Students' Union (KSU) which was opposing railway projects in the state.
"Since there is a claim, police are on the job to go deeper into this and find out if there is anything (nexus)," Sangma told reporters after chairing the meeting of the State Security Commission (SSC) held here.
The chief minister's order came following a recent claim of HNLC that some KSU members had approached the outfit for "logistic support" and that it was ready to supply them with intensive explosive devices.
The HNLC has also demanded that the Congress led government invite KSU for talks and release its activists arrested after the May 27 violent protest against construction of a railway line at Ronghona in Ri Bhoi district.
A similar demand was also made by the opposition National People's Party (NPP) in an open letter to state Home Minister HDR Lyngdoh yesterday.
Asked whether the government would invite the anti-railway group for dialouge, the chief minister said, "We will have talks and discussion as and when required. But let them stop all the criminal and unlawful activities and demonstrate maturity and responsibility.... Government has to talk to people who demonstrate responsibility."
Stating that the incidents of arson was a matter of concern, he said that the government did not expect the KSU to behave like a 'rouge' organization.
Suspected KSU activists on May 27 set afire heavy machineries of the railways, worth crores of rupees, in Ri-Bhoi district. The influential KSU has openly aired its opposition to railway projects in the state.
Sangma appealed to KSU to demonstrate responsibility and restrain themselves from unlawful activities for the larger good of the state and the people.
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