Union Minister Gen (retd) V K Singh today condemned the violent attacks in the northeast saying it was abnormal in a society known for its matriarchal nature.
"This is something abnormal... a society where it is matriarchal in nature. I have never heard of it...It is dismaying. I really do not know what happened but it has to be condemned in the strongest possible words," Singh, Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region, said while speaking on the sidelines of BIMSTEC foudation day held at the Assocham premises here.
On Tuesday, a 35-year-old Garo woman was shot at point blank range when she had resisted an alleged molestation and rape attempt in South Garo Hills district of Meghalaya by suspected GNLA militants, sparking outrage in the state.
Singh also condemned the fatal attack on the Superintendent of Police and another policeman in an encounter with militants of Karbi Peoples' Liberation Tigers (KPLT) in Karbi Anglong district of central Assam.
In his tweet earlier, Singh had condemned the incident, saying, "Incident in Meghalaya is deplorable. Could never imagine an incident like this in a state where women are respected more than anywhere else."
In his address, the minister called the BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) an important component of India's 'Look East' policy. "Whatever activities that will take place in BIMSTEC will greatly benefit the people of northeast and the area will prosper as we wanted it to propsper," Singh said.
BIMSTEC comprises seven developing countries - Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bhutan and Nepal - representing 1.5 billion people or 21 per cent of world population and a combined gross domestic product (GDP) of over USD 2.5 trillion.
Singh also hoped efforts of BIMSTEC will help in the growth of the northeast areas. "And, I sincerely hope that all our members, represented here today, will take various actions which will promote growth and well-being that should come to the area," Singh said.
Speaking on the occasion, Assocham-BIMSTEC Chairman Ravi Wig said, "Infrastructure building in northeast region is the gateway for BIMSTEC at strategic locations." Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had earlier participated in the BIMSTEC Summit held in Myanmar in March.
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