North East News Agency

THOUGH the number of violent incidents had increased in North-East, Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil has expressed satisfaction about the overall security scenario in the region.

While addressing a conference of Chief Secretaries and Directors General of Police on Internal Security and Law and order, the Union Home Minister revealed that the number of violent incidents had increased by eight per cent in NE. But as the “people are fed up with violence and yearn for peace and local support for terrorist activities being sponsored from across the border is receding,” Mr. Patil foresees better days in NE.

Giving enough indications that rising violence level is not bothering him, the Union Home Minister claimed that killings of civilians had come down by six percent and those of security forces by 37 percent compared to 2004.

“Sustained counter operations are continuing against terrorists    so as to restrain them from committing sensational acts. While fighting against terrorists, it is being ensured that least collateral damage is caused and human  rights violations are minimal,” Mr. Patil asserted. 

Reiterating Centre’s willingness to hold talks with the militants groups, Mr. Patil claimed that “the Government was committed to taking forward the dialogue with all groups and different shades of opinion to bring about all round development in the region and resolve the problems faced by the people.” For an improved security environment Mr. Patil formula is well- trained and equipped state police forces and improved intelligence machinery. These thins are must to effectively deal with internal security and law and order situation,” he said.

Shivraj Patil has expressed confidence that the remaining work of border fencing will be completed in about a year’s time. He informed that infiltration in Jammu & Kashmir has come down significantly, largely due to the fence erected on the border. It is essential to expeditiously complete the fencing work in other areas as well, he maintained. The centre is also taking steps to beef up coastal security by giving funds to the coastal states for construction of police stations near the coast-line and also for acquiring fast boats and modern equipment. The responsibility of protecting various stretches of the country’s borders has been given to the Border Security Force, Sashastra Seema Bal, Indo-Tibetan Border Police and Assam Rifles, Mr. Patil revealed. The Home Minister emphasized the need to strengthen these forces by providing them more men, vehicles, modern equipment and intelligence support. He favoured construction of more security posts and a road all along the porous Indo-Nepal border to ensure more effective patrolling. The Home Minister also stressed the need for proper co-ordination and co-operation between the Centre and the states in the task of border management.

Meanwhile, the North Eastern Council (NEC) has chalked out various measures to tackle unemployment in all NE states, including Sikkim. It added that unemployment is one of the biggest problems in the region, and new will be introduced in current fiscal to tackle this.

As part of its ambitious plan the NEC would revamp the education system to generate employment opportunities. The North Eastern Regional Bamboo Mission, Horticulture Mission and Trade Mission have been set up to increase employment opportunities.

The NEC had also formed the North Eastern Regional Education Council to recommend suitable measures for development of human resources in the region.

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