Shillong, June 24: An opposition MLA of Meghalaya today demanded modernisation of the state's police force, which he said did not lack courage, but was facing difficulty in countering militancy for want of better equipment. Opposition MLA Timothy Shira told the assembly "armed with sophisticated arms like AK-47 rifles, militants of both Achik National Volunteers Council (ANVC) and Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) are now in a more advantageous position to carry out their activities."
Questioning the modernisation process of the force, the NCP member asked for the exact number of policemen equipped with AK 47 rifles. According to him, a platoon consisting of about 30 personnel were armed with "hardly two sophisticated rifles with the cops still using outdated SLR and 303 rifles".
If the latest weapons were provided to the police, a positive impact would be felt in counter-insurgency operations, he said while urging the government to try to begin a dialogue with the militants. Bureau Report