Meghalaya deploys special anti-insurgency police team
By IANSFriday, December 3, 2010
SHILLONG - A 53-member Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team has been deployed in Meghalaya to conduct anti-insurgency operations, Home Minister H.D.R. Lyngdoh said Friday.
“The SWAT team is being deployed in Garo Hills to render quick and swift operation in the jungle against militants,” Lyngdoh told legislators in the assembly during question hour.
Garo Hills region, which comprises of three districts in the western part of Meghalaya, is home to more than five rebels groups fighting for a sovereign or autonomous homeland for the tribal Garos.
The region, which shares its border with Assam as well as Bangladesh is also being used as a safe haven and hot corridor for various northeast-based militant groups including the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak-Muivah) (NSCN-IM), the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB).
The team has been trained in counter-insurgency and jungle warfare school of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police at Mahindanda in Uttarakhand and the Counter Insurgency and Terrorist School at Dergaon in Assam, Lyngdoh said.
