Security meeting discuss Al-Qaeda threat

SHILLONG, SEPT 8: The Meghalaya government is taking all possible steps and measures to ensure that the state is ‘free from terrorists danger’, in view of the recent Al-Qaeda’s threat to form wings in neigbouring Assam, Bangladesh and other parts of India to what the terrorists organization said was to“rescue the oppressed Muslims.”

The threat perception to Meghalaya can be gauged if the Al-Qaeda forms its wings in Assam and Bangladesh as it shares border with both. Moreover, Meghalaya’s Garo hills region has of late become a hotbed for militants with killing, kidnapping and extortion ruling the roost.

To chalk out security strategies and discuss the possible dangers pose to the state if the Al-Queda forms wings in Assam and neighbouring Bangaldesh, a high level security meeting was also convened by the chief secretary PBO Warjri on the direction from the state home minister Roshan Warjri on Monday.

“I had asked for a high level security meeting to be convened, because as a government we are really concerned about the statement publicized by the al-Qaeda,” Warjri told reporters after the meeting.

The terrorist outfit, notorious for the 9/11 attacks in the US, has selected both Assam and Bangladesh among a few other places to set up its bases, according to a televised statement issued by the outfit’s top leader Ayman al Zawahri recently.

Warjri also informed that a communication from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has also been circulated to the state government on the issue and said the state government has decided to work in close tandem with the national and central intelligence agencies.

Warjri said,  “All aspects and angles of public safety were taken into considerations during the meeting and appropriate measures have been work out accordingly by the security agency of the state.”  she also informed that the state government is also contemplating to convene a similar meeting with the BSF manning the international borders with Bangladesh.

However, chief secretary PBO Warjri said, “It is too early at the moment to assess how serious is the threat to the state but we are prepare for it.”

Earlier, the security meeting chaired by the chief secretary was attended by the Director General of Police (DGP) PJP Hanaman besides senior government and police officials.

During the meeting, Hanaman was also asked to make plans to tackle the threat which may arise from this organisation being active in the state, an official said.

The official said the state government is taking steps to deal with this threat and will adopt all measures to ensure that there is no danger to the citizens of the state and that all tribes and communities live in peace and security.- By Our Reporter