Mukul Sangma questions ULFA leader’s surrender in South Garo Hills, urges govt to prevent youth militancy

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaSeptember 3, 2025

Leader of Opposition Mukul Sangma has urged the government of the day to be alert, vigilant, and responsive to potential threats and addressing the factors that push youth towards militancy.

He also questioned the circumstances surrounding the surrender of Drishti Rajkhowa, former leader of the banned United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), in South Garo Hills.

Sangma told reporters on Wednesday that while he had previously mentioned Rajkhowa’s presence in Garo Hills, which was later confirmed by the surrender, several questions remain unanswered.

He questioned the number of people who accompanied Rajkhowa during his surrender and the authorities before whom he surrendered.

“We need to confront the government…how many boys/men were there? Was he expected to be in the remotest part of the country with just two of his so-called personal bodyguards. And when he surrendered what are the arms and ammunition he has handed over except the small arms? So you have to connect the dots and confront the government.”

Sangma criticized the government, particularly Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, for being in “denial mode” and not taking responsibility for ensuring peace and preventing the resurgence of militant activities in the state.

“This government is somewhat or other known to be in denial mode, particularly the chief minister. You ask anything. You ask about coal mining he will be very prompt in denying. But the onus of responsibility of governance and to ensure that nothing which is somehow capable of derailing the peace and somehow enabling a vitiated environment for resurgence of any militant activities in the state, we all have to be honest to our responsibilities and prevent it,” he stated.

Urging the government of the day to be alert, vigilant, and responsive, the former CM said, “When we are talking about the overall inputs, is this input not there in Khasi Jaintia Hills? Are there no inputs in Garo Hills? It is up to the government to examine those inputs and utilize their wisdom to arrive at a conclusion. Maybe for whatever reason, the chief minister might not have somehow thought it proper to discuss it before the media. That may also be the issue but the fact is that in the government of the day any incumbent government must be alert, vigilant and responsive.”

“(The government) should know what are the factors which are pushing the youth towards militancy, towards forming a rebel group and somehow see that we don’t allow these things to flourish and grow and it is the responsibility of anybody who is at the helm of affairs of government. It doesn’t matter who is vested with the responsibility but it is incumbent upon any government to deal with this kind of situation with utmost seriousness, honesty, integrity and truthfulness in the best interest of the people and the state,” Sangma added further.