No nexus between ISI, militant outfits in Meghalaya: BSF

The statement came in the wake of CM Mukul Sangma blaming the breakaway faction of ANVC-B for killing migrant labourers from Assam at the behest of ISI to foment communal tension

AP

Shillong: The Border Security Force (BSF) has ruled out any nexus between Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and militant outfits in Meghalaya.
"As far as our intelligence is concerned there is no nexus between ISI and militant outfits in Meghalaya, especially those in Garo Hills," Sushil Kumar Singh, DIG (G) of BSF, told reporters here.
The paramilitary force guards Meghalaya's 443-km-long international border with Bangladesh.
The statement came in the wake of Chief Minister Mukul Sangma blaming the breakaway faction of Achik National Volunteer Council (ANVC-B) for killing migrant labourers from Assam at the behest of ISI to foment communal tension.
"We cannot rule out any larger conspiracy to create problem across the region, not only in Garo Hills but across the region because when an organization like ANVC-B is indulging in selective murder killings of members belonging to one particular community and faith and that also hailing from neigbouring state (of Assam)," Mukul had alleged.
"I have directed the investigating agency to find out as to who are the smart minds behind these people who are guiding them. We did not rule out the involvement of ISI and other anti-national elements in killing migrant labourers to create communal tension," he had said.
ANVC-B, one of the two signatories of a peace agreement with the Centre and the state government, has become vocal against the chief minister following the arrest of 24 cadres belonging to it last month on charges of killing of migrant labourers from Assam.
The outfit had also welcomed a probe by central investigative agencies in the incident.
BSF also categorically ruled out any shipment of arms from across the Indo-Bangla border for insurgent groups in the north east but hinted at the porous Indo-Myanmar border.
"There may be isolated incidents of arms smuggling across the Indo-Bangla border into Meghalaya, but it is not the main supply route," Sudesh Kumar, BSF inspector general for Meghalaya Frontier told reporters.
The main arms route to north-eastern states, including Meghalaya is traced to Dimapur and Aizawl where it appears Chinese-made arms come from Myanmar, he said.
The BSF claim came in response to a statement by Sangma earlier this month who sought to blame 'unchecked' arms supply, including from across the international border, for the spurt in insurgency in the state specially in the Garo Hills region.
The arms route, mentioned by the BSF, was established earlier too when the source of some of the major arms seizures in Garo Hills was traced to Dimapur.
The Indo-Mynmar border is guarded by Assam Rifles, which will be relieved of guarding international borders once the Centre takes a final decision in this regard and deploys BSF in its place both in Manipur and Mizoram.
Earlier, cornered by Opposition and members from within his party over the crumbling law and order situation, chief minister Mukul Sangma had sought to blame rampant supply of arms from across the international borders for the current scenario.
"Where are the guns coming from? Whose job it is to take care of the international border?" he had said without naming the BSF, which guards Meghalaya's 443-km long border with Bangladesh.
The BSF official, however, admitted that manning the border in Meghalaya Frontier has a lot of disadvantages compared to the country's western borders.
"While in the western borders our personnel can have clear vision up to miles, the visibility in Meghalaya is sometimes restricted to only a few metres due to the mountains and forests," the IG said.
Besides, various porous sections of the border remained unfenced due to various reasons.