Meghalaya CM inaugurates Counter-Insurgency–Anti-Terrorism school

Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Tuesday inaugurated the Counter-Insurgency–Anti-Terrorism (CIAT) School and the Integrated Police Welfare Complex here in Meghalaya’s South Garo Hills district.
The establishment of the school is significant as the district was considered as one of the most impoverished districts of the country, by the then Ministry of Panchayati Raj in 2006, and the school would assist in its developmental path. The district still lacks basic development.
South Garo Hills was created in 1992 by bifurcating it from the erstwhile West Garo Hills District and spans an area of 1887 sq km and a population of 99,105. The district has 122 km long International Border with Bangladesh.
“Baghmara (the district headquarter of South Garo Hills) will now receive the same attention and development as other districts,” the Chief Minister said, while inaugurating the school along with Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Home, Prestone Tynsong Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui, Director General of Police Idashisha Nongrang, Chief Secretary Dr. Shakil P. Ahammed, and other dignitaries.
Highlighting the significance of the location, Sangma said the terrain, dense forests and tropical weather conditions around Baghmara make it an ideal setting for advanced counter-insurgency and anti-terrorism training.
“The facility has the potential to train not only Meghalaya Police personnel but also officers from across the country and abroad,” he said. Stressing the need for continuous innovation, the chief minister said policing and counter-terrorism strategies must evolve with changing times and technology.
He urged officials to ensure that the facility is effectively utilised and regularly upgraded, particularly given the state’s proximity to international borders.
Sangma also underlined that strengthening the police force is central to maintaining law and order and ensuring long-term safety and stability in the state.
The Integrated Police Welfare Complex comprises six major components — a police hospital and dispensary, officers’ mess, JCO mess, police welfare training centre, sports complex and recreational centre — along with an approach road and an overhead water tank.
Executed between February 2022 and January 2026, the project reflects the government’s focus on improving morale, efficiency, training standards and welfare of police personnel.
Director General of Police I Nongrang described the inauguration as a moment of continuity and vision in policing, highlighting the foresight of officers who initiated the project decades ago.
She emphasised that the CIAT School is envisioned as a centre of excellence, adding that “the training imparted here will not be theoretical but will be conducted by officers who have faced real field situations.”
Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said the inauguration marked an important step in ensuring balanced development across districts, adding that Baghmara would now receive the same level of attention as other parts of the state.
He said the complex would benefit both police personnel and the local population and assured that remaining facilities, including the dispensary and sports complex, would be completed in the coming years.