Shillong, Mar 15: The ‘trespassers will be shot’ signboard put up by the Indian Air Force (IAF) at Laitkor Peak created a lot of furore in the Assembly on Tuesday with the legislators expressing worry for the local residents incase they stray into the defense land. However, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma assured to talk to the defense authorities to minimize the inconveniences faced by the people.

“Definitely, I will take up this issue and I will call them and try to resolve as many issues that are there,” Sangma said while replying to a short duration discussion moved by Nongkrem legislator Lambor Malngiang in the Assembly.

Malngiang and other members have expressed concern over the Air Force signboard that ‘trespassers will be shot’.

Sangma also said that he would also call the respective MLAs, which are affected by such actions adding “It may not happen in one go, it may not happen immediately for all the locations but we will try to engage by not just having meetings but even by having confidence building activities, which the army and other armed forces are doing in many locations but maybe we can expand the scale of such activities.”

“We need to communicate and resolve this issue by engaging with the armed forces and ensuring that we find a middle path where we are able to ensure their (defense) safety and security is maintained and at the same time to ensure the inconvenience to the people is minimized,” he said.

Stating that certain rules and procedures which are at the national level cannot be simply changed at the state level, the chief minister said such issues need to be engaged at a higher level.

On the other hand, the chief minister said there are many other issues which can be resolved internally. He referred to the gate being erected on PWD road.

“I am sure that if we engage with them we will be able to find a solution out of it but then in the larger picture, the national rules and policies at the national defense level being applied, those may not be able for us to change at this level,” he said.

The matter relating to the signboard of the Air Force was brought to the notice of the Deputy Commissioner, East Khasi Hills by the president FKJGP, Upper Shillong Circle on January 31, 2020.

Accordingly, the deputy commissioner sought a clarification from the commanding officer, headquarters Eastern Air Command (Unit) on February 4, 2020.

Clarifying on the issue on February 7, 2020, the Defence PRO had stated,“It (signboard) is not a threat. It is warning and information, which is normal for all military establishments, which have close compounds”.

He also added that, “These signboards, which are as per existing guidelines, are displayed outside all Air Force installations to prevent trespassing and are without any prejudice to any particular region or state”.

Further he also stated that “after the terror attacks on defense installations at Pathankot, Sunjuwan etc security at all defense installations were tightened and certain precautionary measures were taken to warn civilians not to trespass into such sensitive installations and get fired upon by armed guards. In a few cases, intruders posing a threat to defense establishments had to be shot at by guards on duty. Accordingly, instructions were received from higher formations to put up posters outside Air Force Stations. Reading ‘trespassers will be shot’ written in English, Hindi and local languages to caution people from attempts to trespass.

It may be appreciated that any act of un-authorized entry by breaching the protective layers of a walled defense campus needs a specific and deliberate attempt to trespass and the terror attacks by Anti National Elements (ANEs) at defense bases at Pathankot, Sunjuwan cantonment, etc are live examples of the extent of damage an act of trespass can inflict.

It is reiterated that these cautionary sign boards in no form imply a threat to the peace loving locals and the Indian Air Force has always reached out to the local populace to maintain harmonious relations.

Sangma said in order to address the demand of the public, the officer in-charge of Mawngap police station along with the Rangbah Shnong and some youth met the Air Marshall of Eastern Air Command to discuss the matter.

In the said meeting, the Air Marshall informed the Officer in-charge and the community representatives, that the warning sign is being displayed on the basis of the direction of the Air Force Headquarters, and it is solely for security reasons. Further, similarly safety measures are being implemented in all air force bases all over the country.

It is also important to point out that Eastern Air Command is a highly secured Area, safety and security of the area is paramount and thus, the need to prohibit trespassing, the CM added.