GUWAHATI, April 7 � A day after militants killed five coal labourers in Meghalaya�s Garo Hills, Meghalaya Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma expressed concern at the militant activities in the entire North Eastern region and said that though peace talks were on with some groups, the existence of parallel splinter groups remains a threat.
�The need is to understand and address the causes that lead these youths to take up arms,� he added.
Dr Sangma, talking to media persons on the sidelines of a press conference, said that militants were involved behind the killing of five coal labourers in South Garo Hills district of the State on Tuesday night.
�It looks to be the handiwork of a militant outfit,� he said, though he refused to name any outfit, stating that investigations were on.
Suspected Garo militants had gunned down five labourers at a coal depot in South Garo Hills district on Tuesday night after the depot owner reportedly failed to meet their extortion demands.
This is the second instance of militants getting involved in killing of coal labourers. A few months ago one militant outfit had targeted another coal dealer by shooting dead two migrant labourers at a coal quarry because its owner had failed to pay extortion money.
The young Congress leader emphasized on developmental activities, including generation of employment, bridging of urban-rural gap and capacity building to tackle the issues.
