Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, V Radhika Selvi, reviewed the law-and-order situation of Assam and Meghalaya. She expressed satisfaction with the overall developments in Assam, saying that the State was “normal and doing well.” The minister was on a visit to the North-East to assess the security scenario of the region. “The situation in Assam is normal now… Assam is doing fine,” she said. The State Chief Secretary and top police, Army and paramilitary officials were present at the meeting.

On the reported trans-border links of the banned ULFA with terrorist outfits, including Islamic fundamentalists, Chief Secretary Prafulla Chandra Sarma said that it was natural for the ULFA to develop links with outfits from other countries, as Assam and the North-East shared several international borders. “Assam being a border State, it is natural that the ULFA would be having contacts with outfits from other border nations,” Mr. Sarma said.

ULFA had set up camps in Bangladesh in the early 1990s and has since been consolidating their bases in the country. It had reportedly established links with Pakistan’s ISI and other fundamentalist groups in Bangladesh. The ULFA is also known to be enjoying political patronage in the country.

The minister met Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and discussed the law-and-order situation. The minister asked Gogoi to take immediate steps to fill up vacant posts of police personnel, besides expediting the creation of the proposed battalions.

In Meghalaya, the minister  expressed concern over the worsening law and order situation in the State, especially in Garo Hills.

The Union Minister held a series of closed door meetings with law enforcing agencies in the State. During the meeting, Selvi directed the law enforcing agencies to take urgent steps to improve the law and order situation, sources said.

Some of the grey areas relating to security pertaining to Garo Hills were discussed. The increased cases of extortion and militant related atrocities in Garo Hills were criticized by Selvi. The reported fake encounter case of Liberation of Achik Elite Force Commander-in-Chief, Peter Marak, was one of the issues which the Minister took up for discussion.

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