Shillong, Nov. 8: The new Meghalaya director-general of police, Sibabrata Kakati, will begin his three-day maiden visit to Garo hills from Monday to assess the law and order situation in the three hill districts.

The visit assumes significance in the context of the recent meeting of all the Northeast DGPs in Shillong.

The meeting had pointed out that as Meghalaya’s Garo hills had become a region facilitating the movement of various militants from Bangladesh, there was an urgent need to adopt strategies to contain the trend.

Kakati told The Telegraph today that he would meet police officials in the three districts to understand the problems in Garo hills, as this was his first visit.

He would also assess the law and order situation arising out of extortion by those who man the checkgates put up along National Highway 62 from South Garo Hills to East Garo Hills.

Various truckers’ associations had threatened to start an agitation if the police did not try to prevent the harassment along the national highway.

With the beginning of the coal export season, the police are worried over the reports of various organisations, including militants, engaging in extortion along the highways of Garo hills.

The Garo Student’s Union (GSU) has called a two-day night road blockade in Garo hills from Tuesday in protest against the government’s failure to repair various roads.

According to the union, it submitted a memorandum to Meghalaya chief minister D.D. Lapang, giving a deadline of November 4 to initiate measures to improve the road condition at National Highway 62, but in vain.

Kakati admitted that the porous Garo hills border was a cause for concern as far as the constant infiltration of militants and migrants across the border was concerned.

Many Northeast militants, including Ulfa and NDFB were either arrested or killed in the past by Meghalaya police after they crossed over to Garo hills from Bangladesh.

Kakati will make efforts to beef up security in Garo hills, especially in the border areas, to prevent infiltration of militants and migrants from across the border.

After the recently concluded DGP’s meet, Kakati said the region and other border areas of the state adjacent to Bangladesh needed special attention.

The rise in the number of minor militant groups in Garo hills is also another cause for concern.