SHILLONG, Jan 24 � Security has been tightened in view of the 24-hour bandh called by the proscribed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) to protest the Republic Day celebrations.
Meghalaya Home Minister HDR Lyngdoh today said all security arrangements have been made in the State to ensure incident-free Republic Day celebrations. �Security has been tightened in the State so that Republic Day is celebrated without any untoward incident,� Lyngdoh said.
HNLC has called a 24-hour bandh from 6 pm of January 25 to 6 pm of January 26. There are also reports that three groups of the banned militant outfit have sneaked into India from Bangladesh to disrupt the celebrations.
Governor RS Mooshahary would unfurl the Tricolour at the Jawaharlal Nehru Sports Complex here. In the morning, the East Khasi Hills district administration has organised a Republic Day run in the morning.
�We don�t have any reports of HNLC sneaking into India from Bangladesh. We would see to it that the Republic Day celebrations pass of peacefully,� Director General of Police, SB Kakati said.
However, security forces have set up checkpoints throughout the city and on National Highways 40 and 44 and are conducting checking on vehicles.
Meanwhile, Kakati said there are no �technical inputs� of Meghalaya Police constable Savio Marak joining the Garo National Liberation Army.
Marak, attached with Meghalaya Police�s 1st battalion has gone missing together with arms and ammunition. His whereabouts are still unknown and many believe that Marak has joined the GNLA headed by ex-Meghalaya police DSP Champion R Marak.
�We are trying to find out about Marak�s whereabouts, but at present we have no technical inputs of him joining the GNLA,� Kakati added.
