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Meghalaya Govt failed to act on intelligence

By Raju Das

SHILLONG, June 30 � Despite receiving several intelligence inputs that the presence of Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) chief Champion Sangma and other cadres of the outfit at the Shillong jail could lead to riot or fight the Meghalaya Government did not act.

The intelligence report from early this year said that Champion Sangma be transferred to some jail outside the State. It recommended that by transferring Champion his movement would be restricted and that his interacting with his cadres would be curtailed. The Meghalaya Government seemed to have ignored these reports.

Just as the reports suggested, Champion and a dozen inmates got into a fight in the high security zone of the prison yesterday in which four were injured, but none seriously.

The reports to the Government have given precise details of the recent activity inside the jail. It is said that four cell phones were smuggled into the prison early this year and the monthly bill incurred came to Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000.

The Prison department suggested to the Government to install jammers in the jail complex, but the Government had other opinions on the issue. It was also reported that Champion was moving freely outside the high security zone and was frequently intimidating other inmates and also the warders.

Moreover, the population inside the jail has risen over 250 per cent beyond its capacity and the Government was asked to intervene in shifting some of the inmates.

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