Shillong, June 24: Meghalaya government today informed the assembly that any individual or organisation must take permission either from the state or authorisation from the Centre to facilitate talks with the militants. State's Home Minister R G Lyngdoh, in reply to opposition member A L Hek's supplementary, said because of the "nexus" issue between the politicians and militants, government did not wish to take any "chance" in this regard.
Lyngdoh, who tabled the Union home secretary's letter stating New Delhi authorised none to facilitate talks with the ultras in Meghalaya, told C R Sangma that so far only the Khasi Jaintia Church leaders forum was permitted by the state government to negotiate with the militants but their attempts yielded no results as the extremists were not responding. Asked whether government was contemplating any action against "self-styled negotiators", the minister said no action can be taken against anyone based on allegations.
Lyngdoh further said the self-styled negotiators can also be questioned if need arose.
Replying to a separate question, the home minister said there was a "nominal" increase in women related crimes in the state. Giving statistics, he said 38 rape cases were registered in 2002 as against 26 in 2001 and 35 in 2000. Murder cases were reported as 21 in 2002, 11 in 2001 and six in 2000, he said.
Lyngdoh, however, denied wife beating case was highest in the state. Bureau Report