Meghalaya Police bust HNLC sleeper cell in Nongpoh; Bids to stage more IED blasts foiled

Staff Reporter

Shillong, March 12: The state police today busted an active sleeper cell of the proscribed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) and foiled its attempt to explode more IEDs in Shillong and Nongpoh town.

Four persons were arrested from Ri Bhoi district. They have been identified as Damanbha Ripnar alias Shall Lapang, Robinis Ripnar, Jill Tariang and Shining Nongrum.

“A joint operation of East Khasi Hills DEF and Ri Bhoi DEF, Meghalaya police was able to foil the bid of the proscribed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) to explode another IED,” Ri Bhoi SP Jagpal Singh Dhanao said.

He said on Monday evening at about 6 pm, one Bolero Pick-up vehicle (ML-12-3243) driven by Damanbha Ripnar was detained at Umsning-Mawhati road.

On the voluntary leading of the accused Damanbha Ripnar, one IED was recovered from the above-mentioned vehicle by Bomb Detection & Disposal Squad (BDDS) from Shillong after observing all the safety protocols.

“Till filing of this report one active sleeper cell of HNLC consisting of 4 accused persons has been busted thereby foiling their attempt to explode more IEDs in Shillong and Nongpoh town,” the SP said. “It is to be mentioned that this sleeper cell was taking directions from Bangladesh based proscribed HNLC fugitives,” he added.

Police have also seized 15 gelatin sticks, 167 splinters (shrapnel inside the IED), 1 safety fuse wire, 3 numbers of non-electric detonators and 5 mobile phones during the operation.

A criminal case has been registered with the Nongpoh police station.

On Sunday, two including an HNYF leader were arrested for their involvement in the IED bomb blast at Them Iew Mawlong.

Meghalaya Police HQ to get engineering wing

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Sept 12: The State Cabinet today approved the proposal for the creation of an engineering wing in the police headquarters at Shillong.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said, “The police have a large number of infrastructures all over the State and hence in order to be able to allow the police department to take care of the needs of these different buildings and offices, an engineering wing was required.”

He said in the absence of an engineering wing, the department would have to follow different procedures which are very time-consuming and involve different agencies to do small things even for the repair of a bathroom or repair of a thana or a barrack.

“So all these kinds of activities that are there will now be done by the engineering wing,” he added.

Sangma also informed the government had earlier come up with a decision to sanction and keep certain funds at the discretion of the Superintendent of Police (SP) and Deputy Commissioner (DC) of every district so that they can use that money for immediate repair works at the district level so that proper infrastructure can be provided for policing.

“And this decision today will allow that decision to be implemented in a better manner and ensure whatever basic requirements that the police personnel need at the district and grassroots level those requirements can be met,” he added further.

Govt to address shortage of manpower in police dept

The state government has decided to complete the recruitment process to address the shortage of manpower in the police department within this year.

Informing this after chairing a meeting at the police headquarters, Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Home (Police) Prestone Tynsong said there is not less than 3500 to 4000 shortage of manpower in the police department.

“Today, we have taken a decision right now I think we are all aware we do have the drive for appointment of different categories of police in the state of Meghalaya about 1000 plus and the personal interview is still on and it will be over in another 2-3 weeks then they will be appointed and again the next session of recruitment drive will immediately take place and we also wanted to complete the whole process of recruitment drive within this year itself,” Tynsong said.

“Once the filling up of vacancies is done I am very sure we will be able at least to overcome one of the biggest challenges that we have not only at the SP level but upto the outpost level, we have so much shortage of manpower,” he added.

According to him, the government will try its best to ensure better policing and boost the morale of the police besides maintaining the law and order in the state of Meghalaya.

Asserting the need to increase the manpower of the police department, Tynsong sad, “The police department is the biggest organization as far as government department is concerned, we have not less than 16,000 forces and now we need to increase that also and we discuss about how to create new sanctions.”

“In other states, I am telling you they have 35,000 – 40,000 manpower. Like in Manipur, they have a manpower of 26,000 whereas here we have only 16,000. Therefore, we wanted to increase the total strength of police personnel in Meghalaya,” he added.

On the infrastructure aspect, the deputy chief minister said that the Director General of Police (DGP) has been asked to send all the requirements pertaining to the issue where quite a number of police stations and SP offices do not have their own buildings.

“Of course we cannot do it in one go but in phase wise and I will try my best to get maximum sanction (for construction of) SP offices, quarters of the SP and police officers and then come down to the police stations, where some are still functioning from rented houses. We wanted to make sure we have our own buildings and offices,” he said.

Tynsong also said that the government would also construct good barracks at the police outposts including the 7 newly created outposts along the Meghalaya-Assam border.

“As far as those newly created outposts immediately we are going to construct the barrack for the functioning of these outposts in all the 7 outposts and we will also increase the manpower there,” he added.

He further informed, “I had requested DGP to prioritize it one by one as we can’t give sanction in one go but in priority basis. We will do it according to the recommendation to be made by the DGP.”

Meanwhile, Tynsong said that the meeting also discussed the functioning of the forensic laboratory in the state.

“Of course few more instruments that we need to requisition immediately and of course we do have little shortage of manpower that has also been discussed. We wanted to attend to this. See like DNA test we need to promptly get the report as you know it well when you talk about the conviction rate it is very low in absence of this test. I have requested the DG to again bring all the details to the department and we will accordingly positively respond to the requirement which is to be submitted by the office of the DGP,” he added.

Govt to advertise police recruitment soon

Deputy Chief Minister in charge of Home (Police) Prestone Tynsong today said the government will soon advertise another 1500 posts for recruitment in the police department.

“We are going to again advertise for another 1500 manpower which is required in the police department alone,” Tynsong told reporters.

He said the process of recruitment will start very soon and the government will ensure that such vacancies are filled up within this year itself.

Earlier, Tynsong informed that the personal interview for over 1000 plus vacant posts will be held within the next 3-4 days.