'ULFA finding dens in Arunachal: Gogoi’

Tarun Gogoi calls for close cooperation among police forces of different states to check the inter-State movements of insurgents.

BLAMING safe havens in neighbouring states for the recent spurt in ULFA strikes in Upper Assam, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has expressed deep concern over  the sanctuaries enjoyed by insurgent outfits in Tirap and Changlang  areas of Arunachal Pradesh. The Centre must smash insurgent hideouts in Tirap and Changlang    as these have been the launch     pads   for hit and run strikes particularly in Tinsukia district, Mr. Gogoi remarked.

The Chief Minister expressed hope that the BJP Government in Itanagar would realise the urgency of sanitising the area.Mr. Gogoi assured tea company executives not to get panicky. The Police is alive to the situation and has stepped up vigil in the tea garden belt. More central forces are requisitioned to beef up security,   he said.

The State Government also has planned to raise two more police battalion. The delay is on account  of resource crunch. The Chief Minister warned the police against any complacency in tackling militancy. He denied that police chief H K Deka was replaced by P V Sumant under pressure from the Central government or at the instance of the Hindustan Lever Limited (HLL). Tea executives of the HLL are facing the ULFA threat and ransom demands. “There was not a single word from the Centre asking for the change of guard in the State police. It has nothing to do with the HLL either. Deka has been there as DGP for over three years and a change of guard was in the offing,” the Chief Minister said and hinted at a major reshuffle in the State police force in the coming days.

Gogoi mooted more close cooperation among police forces of different States to check the inter-State movements of insurgents in the region. Already Assam and Meghalaya Police are working to a plan. He hoped for similar coordination with other States particularly Arunachal Pradesh. IM activities are another area of concern for Gogoi. Their (NSCN-IM) activities are increasing along inter-State boundary areas, he said. So he appealed to the Central government, which is engaged in dialogue with the Naga rebels, to compel them to strictly adhere to ceasefire ground rules.

He warned that Assam police wouldn’t tolerate unlawful activities of Naga rebels within our territory where the truce between Centre and the NSCN (IM ) is not applicable.

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