Meghalaya chief minister orders security pickets in violence-hit areas

Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma today reviewed the security scenario in the ethnic-violence hit border areas of East Garo Hills district and instructed the administration to put up fixed security pickets at the vulnerable points.
   
Sangma had a review meeting at Resubelpara circuit house and then chaired a security meeting with district officials where he asked the police to put up checks at all the entry and exit points of the state on routes connecting Assam in the district, official sources said.
   
"The CM asked the administration to be active and ensure that the culprits involved in the ethnic violence are brought to book. He also directed putting up of fix security pickets at all the sensitive places," sources said.
   
Contemplating more assistance to the affected people, he also stressed the need for more confidence building measures and peace initiatives to make the peace long-lasting.
   
Chief minister also distributed a compensation of Rs10,000 each and CGI sheets to the affected families presently sheltered at a relief camp at Mendipathar College.
   
Currently there are 1,168 refugees still sheltered in the six relief camps in Meghalaya, while on Assam side there are some 9,500 refugees displaced in the ethnic riots last month.
   
Twelve people were killed, thousands of houses were torched and nearly 50,000 people were displaced in the riots in Meghalaya's East Garo Hills and neighbouring Assam's Goalpara district between January 1 and 9.