Several measures have been initiated at unofficial levels to hold discussions with the well-entrenched ANVC, which has spread its activities and also recently initiated alliances with several insurgent outfits from neighbouring states, according to official sources.

``Feelers have been sent to top ANVC leaders for talks and to ascertain their exact demands. Though they have been active for quite some time, we don't know what exactly they want.''

A major cause of worry was ANVC's recently initiated alliances with insurgent outfits of other North-East states including National Socialist Council of Nagaland (I-M), National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) and United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), the sources said.

As state Chief Secretary H W T Syiem put it, the ANVC, which has beenoperating hand in glove with NSCN (I-M), ULFA, NLFT and some insurgent outfits of Manipur, needs to be dealt with at the earliest.

Added to the menace of ANVC, the state is also threatened by growing activities of Hynniewtriep National Liberation Council (HNLC), a Khasi outfit.

``Though insurgency is at present in a nascent stage in Meghalaya, the problem may soon get out of control unless it is nipped in the bud,'' he said.

Syiem said the ANVC is alarmingly growing in number and consolidating its base, while the HNLC is a comparatively smaller outfit but getting to be increasingly active.

The ANVC seems to have earned considerable support among the local people. Besides fighting against alcoholism and gambling in hill areas, ANVC has also been raising its voice against atrocities against women, according to volunteers of a non-governmental organisation here.

The problem has become more complicated as Meghalaya has long been used as a safe haven by underground insurgent elements from neighbouringnorth-eastern states.

Once an abode of peace and tranquility, the state now witnesses frequent abductions, killings, extortion and clashes by the local insurgents.

``The state, particularly its capital city, has been a haven for underground elements of other north-eastern states who use it as a safe transit point,'' Syiem said, adding it was also being used as a conduit for arms flow by the ultras.

Even training camps have been set up in remote and inaccessible areas of the state by certain insurgent outfits, posing a serious threat to peace and security, he said.

The state government has sought assistance from the Centre to tackle growing activities of insurgents, he said, adding ``the Centre must provide necessary help before the situation worsens.''

Deputy Chief Minister D D Lapang said concrete action needs to be taken at the earliest to prevent the misguided youths from becoming hard-core insurgents.

Coupled with the menace of nascent insurgency, the state is experiencing considerable tensionover the issue of ``outsiders''.

Lapang said both tribals and non-tribals here are in the grip of a ``fear psychosis'' as they feel threatened by each other.

``Continuous influx of people from outside has created a psychosis among locals who fear they would be swallowed by the outsiders,'' he said and suggested strengthening economic development as a step ``to remove this feeling''.

He said political instability, unemployment, underdevelopment and activities of certain anti-national forces have been the main reasons behind the growth of militancy in Meghalaya.

The state, sharing a 423 km-long border with Bangladesh, faces influx of Muslims from neighbouring Assam, suspected to be Bangladeshi nationals, who claim to be residents of certain Assam districts and carry with them documentary evidence, senior police officials said.

Syiem said the state police force is too small and ill-equipped to effectively deal with insurgency and infiltration and needs to be strengthened with acquisition of modern armsand state-of-the-art gadgets.