SHILLONG, Aug 11 � Chief Minister Mukul Sangma today said �criminals would be treated as criminals� to protect the citizens� right of Meghalaya.
Sangma was reacting to the recent killing of four Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) cadres by the police. Last Tuesday, four GNLA cadres, including one of its �Area Commanders� were killed in a police encounter near Williamnagar, East Garo Hills.
The government continues to term the GNLA as a �bunch of criminals,� involved in extortion, kidnapping and other illegal activities.
�Criminal and thugs would be treated as criminals and thugs. How else the government would respond against those involved in killing, extortion and intimidation,� Sangma asked.
Admitting that fighting militancy is a �complex and difficult job,� Sangma said the government was well within its purview to �neutralise� militancy and protect the human right of the citizens of the State. He further said cooperation of all citizens of the State would be taken to fight militancy, when asked if the govt would accept the extended support of the Achik National Liberation Council�s (ANVC) to fight GNLA.
