Shillong, Sept 12: The shifting of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) camps from Mawlai and other three places to New Shillong Township is yet to take place.
In reply to a question from Brightstarwell Marbaniang (VPP-Mawlai) in the Assembly on Friday, Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Home (Police) Prestone Tynsong said that resistance from local Dorbar Shnong delayed the process.
“In fact in 2022, we have already decided that the temporary camps of four places where we camped the CRPF personnel is to be shifted to one designated place. In May 2022, we were about to earmark 10 acres of land in New Shillong Township but before signing of memorandum of understanding (MoU) some localities there raised strong opposition for creating a camping site of CRPF,” Tynsong said.
The deputy chief minister assured that he would take up the issue with traditional heads and Dorbar Shnong since the land has been earmarked for the camping site of the CRPF in Shillong.
The government has already allotted 50 acres to the Meghalaya police for the Meghalaya Security Complex, he said.
According to Tynsong, the CRPF is different from central forces and is requisitioned on a need basis.
“The CRPF is more or less like the state’s own battalion, utilized for meeting different challenges on a daily basis. The total manpower of CRPF in Shillong and Tura is less than 400, and it is fully controlled by the state government”, he said.
Tynsong wanted the MLAs to create awareness in their respective constituencies about the CRPF, dispelling misconceptions that they are like the BSF or the Assam Rifles.
“The land for the CRPF camp will remain with the government, Tynsong said, while asking Mawryngkneng legislator to help make people understand the role of the CRPF.
During the Question Hour, Marbaniang said the CRPF camp in Mawlai has been a point of contention among locals, with demands for relocation since 2021.
“In 2022, an incident near the temporary camp led to a law and order situation, prompting community leaders to meet with the Deputy CM and CM and the government had assured them that the temporary camp would be shifted from Mawlai”, he said.
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