Source: Hueiyen News Service
New Delhi, February 07 2010:
Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Sunday warned security forces not to become complacent as "belligerent factions" of ULFA and NDFB may continue violent activities in the state to prove that they are still "the force to reckon with".
The Chief Minister said although ULFA faced a "big jolt" with the arrest of top leaders but its elusive Commander-in Chief Paresh Baruah who has moved to Myanmar is trying to regroup the residual cadres.
"Need of the hour is to increase vigilance in the Indo-Myanmar border by advancing the BOPs manned by Assam Rifles closer to the Indo-Myanmar border so that extremist and anti-national elements cannot sneak into the state through Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, and Manipur to launch recruitment drive and other depredatory activities," Gogoi said at the Chief Ministers' Conference on Internal Security.
He warned that Myanmar-based NSCN (K) has been offering assistance and logistic support to ULFA which must be curtailed at this crucial juncture through the office of Central Government.
Gogoi also said anti-talk faction of NDFB, which is based in Bangladesh, is reportedly trying to establish contacts with forces inimical to India to obtain arms and other logistic support.
Gogoi said the activities of NSCN (IM) which is active in bordering districts of Assam and Nagaland needs to be checked by enforcing ceasefire ground rules effectively.
The Chief Minister said more and more autonomy has been given to different groups in the form of autonomous councils and development councils so that the communities living in the far flung, remote and under-developed areas don't feel deprived and can take part in developmental activities.
"Underdevelopment facilitates breeding of militants.
It was observed that there are certain areas in the state which contributed maximum number of youth to the militant organisations.
We have identified 1,152 such underdeveloped villages located in 20 districts of remote areas of the state.
There is a feeling of neglect and alienation among the youth of these villages," he said while seeking help from the Centre in employment generation in these areas.
He said massive efforts have been undertaken for the modernisation and expansion of state police force.
"The total vacancy position of the Assam Police as on January 1, 1009 was 8763 .
The recruitment process for 2401 Police Constable has already been completed and they are being sent for training shortly...The state government has also created 800 new posts for the Guwahati city police," he said, adding that state has taken up the implementation of Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems in right earnest.