Ex-militants demanding money from MLAs

SHILLONG, March 20: Meghalaya Home Minister THT Rangad on March 19 said the monthly stipend of Rs 2000 for the surrendered militants in the State was not adequate, report Agencies. Rangad, who is also incharge of police, said the State government could not commit itself to giving more than the stipulated amount. Replying to a question raised by K C Boro and Sujit Sangma, both from the Congress, during the ongoing Budget session at the State Central Library here, the Home Minister said: "I feel the amount is quite low. It is a central package, but right now we cannot give any commitment of giving more to the militants." Rangad informed the House that so far 29 Achik National Volunteers Council (ANVC) militants surrendered before the State government, adding that no one from Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council had come overground. HNLC Rangad refuted the allegation by Debora C Marak (Cong) that the surrendered ANVC militants were camping in Shillong and demanded money from the MLAs. Ms Marak's statement that some of the surrendered militants came to her residence and also that of the MLAs from Garo Hills demanding money ranging from Rs 1000 to 2000, caused embarrassment to the Government. "We can not pay every now and then" Ms Marak remarked. The Home Minister said that he had not received any such complaint and tried to appease the opposition by saying that the surrendered militants would be counselled at the rehabilitation centres and would not be allowed to carry arms with them. Some of the Congress MLAs expressed apprehension that in Assam the surrendered ULFA militants were triggering more panic than their underground counterparts. On March 8 Chief Minister E K Mawlong gave a list of the achievements of the State government during his first year in office in which he claimed that so far 31 ANVC militants had surrendered. Meghalaya Governor MM Jacob in his speech on the opening day of the session on March 16 said a "large number of ANVC militants had surrendered" without specifying any number. However, the Home Minister informed the House that 29 ANVC militants had surrendered. The militants had surrendered in Shillong, Tura and Williamnagar in recent times, Rangad told the assembly in reply to queries of Congress MLA K C Boro and Sujit K Sangma. He said the surrendered militants were being paid a sum of Rs 2000 per month under the scheme for rehabilitation of surrendered militants in the State. The Government did not allow the surrendered militants to move with arms, he said. In reply to a question, Rangad said. "We have no knowledge about the surrendered militants moving with arms."