No compromise with militants: PM

In his message to the people of Assam, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh assured full protection to all sections of the people in the State, while asserting that the Central Government would be firm and determined to ensure that terrorist groups do not succeed. The Prime Minister further stated that the Central Government would work closely with the Assam Government in protecting all sections of the people whether Hindi-speaking or other language-speaking, to feel safe and secure.

Dr. Singh expressed his sadness at the loss of innocent lives in the recent spate of violence. He admitted that it is the Government’s duty to protect honest law-abiding citizens.

Dr. Singh emphasized saying that there will be no compromise with insurgent groups with nefarious designs. He however added that at the same time all problems of any group can be sorted out through dialogue and discussion.

On the other hand, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that ULFA should sort out their grievances on the discussion table, and that any sincere move by the ultras on this score would help restore peace in Assam. “We may even consider a ceasefire, though our past experience has not been enthusiastic,” he said.

On his part, Mr. Gogoi complimented the people of Assam and Bihar for showing compassion and restraint during the turbulent days of the first week of the new year. The violence resulted in the deaths of 63 workers in the Dibrugarh, Sivasagar and Tinsukia districts. However, he appreciated the fact that violence has been aptly condemned. “The restraint by the people of the two states has helped to not vitiate the law and order situation,” he said and added that he admits that sections of the people still harbour a sense of insecurity and that this would take some time to stabilize.

The Chief Minister also handed over two cheques of Rs 3 lakh each to Kiron Devi of Nauholia and Ramchandra Mahato of Sepon as ex-gratia from the State government. Kiron Devi is the widow of Dinesh Das, and Ramchandra the father of the teenager, Ajoy. Both of them were killed by ULFA militants on January 5 and 6, respectively, in the Dibrugarh district. Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarmah said that the next of kin of those killed in the recent violence would receive Rs 2 lakh each, from the Prime Minister's Relief Fund.

Of the thirteen persons killed in Dibrugarh district, the administration has not found next of kin of eleven persons. Their cheques would be sent to their addresses in Bihar or Uttar Pradesh, as the case might be. In the Tinsukia district, next of kin of 31 persons were given their cheques yesterday by Sarmah. Altogether 33 persons were killed in the recent violence in the Tinsukia district between January 5 and 7. The two remainder persons' families in Bihar would also be sent their cheques through the Bihar Government.

Chief Minister Mr. Gogoi said that the current anti-insurgency operation by the Unified Command Structure is headed by him. He said this would not mean any political pressure on the security forces and the police, but for appropriate guidance. He said the security forces would be operationally free to flush out militants. He said: “Our policy is to secure long term peace in Assam, not to hunt and kill militants. ULFA must give up killings and extortions to pave the way for a meaningful dialogue.”

He said he does not give much importance to the threat on Congressmen by the banned outfit, saying that the Congress workers have always been under a threat. “This would not trigger any slowdown on the security operations,” he stressed.

He also said that the peace process initiated by Dr Mamoni Raisom Goswami has been hackneyed. “She only had a mobile phone contact with the ULFA leaders, when she actually needed to have a person-to-person contact,” he said. The chief minister also refuted that the Arunachal Pradesh government may have a critical view of anti-insurgency operations in that state. “In fact we shall soon have a DGP-to-DGP level talks to further streamline the operations in Arunachal,” he said. He also revealed that he has spoken to the Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister, Gegong Apang on suspected ULFA camps in Arunachal and that Apang has agreed to cooperate in flushing out the militants.

DCs, SPs to form peace groups
The State Government has directed all the District Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police to form neighbourhood peace and protection committees to give protection to the Hindi speaking people following the mayhem caused by the militants belonging to the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) in the upper Asom districts by killing more than 60 persons. Admitting that it is difficult to provide security to each and every person of the state staying in remote parts and to thwart possible attacks by the militants, such committees are necessary, feel the State Government. Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi instructed the Home Department to issue such an instruction to all the districts of the state and the Home Commissioner has issued the same.

The Government instruction issued to the DCs and SPs of all the districts pointed out that the recent incidents in upper Asom districts involving extremist attacks on Hindi speaking people resulted in the loss of innocent lives. “It is felt that to maintain peace and communal harmony in the society and to protect the Hindi speaking people and all the other affected Bihari people, community mobilization would be an asset to maintain law and order situation in all the districts. It has become the need of the hour to constitute neighbourhood peace and protection committees consisting of all sections of people.”

The Government order further said that the members of the committees would guard their respective localities at night to avert any untoward incident and would take up confidence building measures among all sections of people. The committees will report any development to the officers in charge of the police stations and to the magistrates. They will also keep in touch with the Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police, the Government instruction said.

The idea of forming neighbourhood protection committees to deal with the problem of shortage of force was first tried in Dhemaji district following the killing of six Hindi speaking persons in a chapori, about 50 kilometres away from Silapathar. Around 20 such committees were formed in Jonai sub division and the members of the committees did a commendable job in providing protection to the Hindi speaking people living in the remote areas. Dhemaji Deputy Commissioner D Mishra said that the members of TMPK, an organization of the Mising community played the key role in formation of the neighbourhood protection committees, while the Jonai MLA Bhuban Pegu also mobilized the youths of the area to join the committees. He said that the Dhemaji district administration is planning to award commendation certificates to the members of the committee for the services rendered by them.

Meanwhile, Tinsukia Deputy Commissioner AK Absar Hazarika said that the situation in the district is fast returning to normal and about 1300 people are still living in the relief camps. He said that the village defence parties have been activated and local people have been motivated to work along with the VDPs to ensure security to the Hindi speaking people.

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