Maoist threat: Assam police to get special training

In view of increasing presence of Maoists in the state, the Assam government has decided to organise special training for its police force on countering the threat posed by the red brigade.

Announcing this, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Monday said that though the counter-insurgency Unified Command comprising the state police, paramilitary force and the army was at work in the state to fight insurgents, special training would be given to the police force to fight Maoists.

"The Maoists work differently. They are not like other insurgent groups. They try to influence the common people and mobilise mass

support by spreading their ideology. They need to be tackled in a special way for which we need have a specially trained police force. We will take help from the Centre in organising special training for our policemen to fight Maoists. Of course, the Unified Command will remain in force to tackle threat from insurgents," Gogoi said.

Gogoi said that the Maoist movement in the state must be nipped in the bud for the sake of continuation of the development process.

"The state has been on the path of development for the last few years following the restoration of peace. The process can't be allowed to be jeopardised again by Maoists."