Concerns remain despite ceasefire in northeast
September 24, 2011 11:03 IST
Even though a number of militant groups are on ceasefire with central forces in Assam and other parts of the northeastern region, including Meghalaya and Nagaland, concern remain about the tendency of the ultras to violate ground rules.
A source informed rediff.com that the issue came up for discussion in the recent meeting of state police chiefs held in New Delhi under the aegis of Union Home Ministry.
All along, the Army has played the key role in curbing militancy in the region, especially in Assam, Nagaland and Manipur and bringing the situation largely under control though some splinter groups are still active and are carrying out hit-and-run incidents.
Now, with marked improvement of the situation, the state police forces, which have better knowledge about the areas and close to the people, have been advised to take lead in tackling insurgents and keep a close tab on ultras in truce, thereby reduce its dependency on the Army.
In case of Assam, the GOC 4 Corps of Indian Army is the operational head of the counter-insurgency operation since 1997 and the arrangement is still on place despite marked improvement of the situation.
Almost all militant groups in Assam are now in truce and engaged in peace process barring a faction of the United Liberation Front of Assam and National Democratic Front of Bodoland. There have been occasional reports of violation of truce ground rules by some of the outfits.
In Meghalaya, only a newly-formed militant group called Garo National Liberation Army is active in Garo Hills areas while in Nagaland the ceasefire involving all factions of the NSCN exists since 1997.
However, factional feuds among the rebel groups in truce and rampant extortion carried out by them have been the bane of life in Nagaland for years now since the signing of the truce between the rebels and government of India.
The situation in Manipur has remained equally worse with many militant groups like UNLF, PLA, PREPAK still remaining active despite massive deployment of forces. Manipur militants groups have started operating from outside the state to dodge the sustained counter-insurgency operation back home. Assam police have of late busted several shelters of Manipur ultras in Guwahati city.
K Anurag in Guwahati
