SHILLONG: The killing of NCP candidate Jonathone N Sangma and three others in a bomb blast in Meghalaya's East Garo Hills on Sunday has once again brought to the fore the threat militancy poses to the district which has, for years, grappled with violence and extortions by armed groups. Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA), a powerful militant group active in the area, is suspected to be behind the explosion.Located on the western part of the state, the Garo Hills region is home to the Garos - one of the three matrilineal tribes of Meghalaya. The other two are Khasis and Jaintias. This region accounts for 24 out of 60 assembly seats and chief minister Mukul Sangma , who is contesting polls from two seats - Ampati and Songsak - is also from this part of the state.Following the killings, security has been beefed up in five districts of the Garo Hills which share border with Bangladesh. Meghalaya DGP SB Singh, who is camping in the Garo Hills following Sunday's incident, said, "I am in a meeting and can't speak anything now." SP (East Garo Hills) Ringrang TG Momin said Sunday killings could be an attempt to make the presence of militants felt before the polls.While the ruling Congress says it has been able to bring down militancy in the Garo Hills during its 10-year rule, BJP, which is trying hard to unseat Congress in Meghalaya this time, recently lodged a complaint with the Election Commission saying that militancy has raised its head ahead in the area ahead of the assembly election. Earlier this month, an employee of a private firm was kidnapped by former militants. Police managed to rescue him later.Given the fact that kidnappings and extortions, especially by former militants, are still on in the Garo Hills, the opposition fears that they may try to disrupt the poll process or influence voters. BJP has demanded the seizure of illegal firearms, sealing of the international border with Bangladesh and adequate deployment of central paramilitary forces for smooth conduct of polls in the Garo Hills.Counter-insurgency operations have been stepped up in the Garo Hills in the wake of poll campaigning by central ministers and VVIPs. While Union home minister Rajnath Singh addressed an election rally in Songsak constituency on Monday, Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to attend public rallies in North and West Garo Hills districts.Political parties across the spectrum, however, feel that the magnitude of militancy-related violence has significantly come down compared to what it was in 2013. "There is no denying the fact that militant activities have come down. But peace is yet to prevail in the Garo Hills. The state government has mishandled the rehabilitation policy of surrendered militants. As a result, there is frustration among them. Had the government been serious, the situation would have been much better," said National People's Party (NPP) chief and MP Conrad K Sangma.NPP, founded by the late PA Sangma, has emerged as a major challenger to Congress in the Garo Hills."Many misguided youths have been brought to the mainstream. They were provided appropriate employment opportunities. Militancy is on the wane in the Garo Hills because of our government's commitment to peace," Meghalaya Youth Congress president Richard Marak countered.

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