ULFA threat to oil storage tanks has prompted Tarun Gogoi to send an SOS to L. K. Advani. “Set up a Task Force under the Union Home Secretary to deal exclusively with Assam’s insurgency problem, he told the Deputy Prime Minister.

The Chief Minister’s problem is serious. It brooks no delay in response. Most storage tanks of Assam refineries are located at vulnerable points from security angle. Either shift them to safe places or beef up security ring around them, Gogoi conveyed to Advani. Increase the height of perimeter walls of refinery complexes and storage depots as a first step to keep prowling militants at bay, the Assam chief minister advised.

The Gogoi plea is for additional para-military forces. “As per the Centre’s own assessment Assam needs 180 companies of para-military forces but at present there are only 116 companies in the State,” he told reporters after meeting Advani at the North Block.

Militants belonging to banned ULFA and NDFB have set up numerous camps across the ‘unguarded’ stretch of the border with Bhutan and Bangladesh. These camps have become the launch pads for the hit-and -run pincer strikes on Assam to the dismay of security forces engaged in counter-insurgency. “Do some thing to check this menace”, Gogoi implored Advani. He felt the External Affairs Ministry should bring pressure on Thimpu and Dhaka to get the ULFA and NDFB militants evicted from their soil.

Advani shared Gogoi’s concern. The Union Cabinet Committee on Security is seized of Assam insurgency problem. What     concrete action the Centre will take to help Gogoi is a matter of conjecture, as yet.
                    
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