SHILLONG, June 13? Chief Minister D D Lapang Thursday said that his Congress-led coalition Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government would invoke the provisions of POTA if necessary to deter unauthorised liaisoning by politicians with banned militant groups in the State, reports PTI.
Stating that his government was aware of a nexus between politicians and militants, Lapang told a press conference after a Cabinet meeting that politicians in the State who liasioned with ultras without specific authorisation were liable to be prosecuted.
?The police are investigating these activities and the law will take its own course. A mature government does not act in haste. Everything will be done at the right time,? Lapang said. He also said that his government had extended the period of imprisonment from one year to three years under the Meghalaya Preventive Detention Act to tackle rising criminal activities in Meghalaya.
Asked to comment on the claim of former Lok Sabha Speaker and NCP general secretary Purno A Sangma, who had claimed on May 20 of being a facilitator in talks between some insurgent groups in the State and the Centre, Lapang reiterated that the Union Government had not authorised anyone to negotiate with militants operating in Meghalaya.
A day after Sangma?s claim, the State Government had rejected the NCP leader?s contention citing a letter from Union Home Secretary N Gopalswamy which said the Centre had not authorised anyone to negotiate with Meghalaya militants. The government, Lapang said, was firm on this matter and the police had even summoned former Meghalaya Minister Adolf Lu Hitler Marak for his alleged nexus with militants. In connection with the recent payment of money to the banned Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) by some government departments, Lapang said investigations were on and the concerned people would have give explanations.