Centre, NE states to set up joint ISM

The Centre and four North Eastern states of Assam, Nagaland, Tripura and Meghalaya decided to set up a joint intelligence sharing mechanism to thwart attempts by major militant groups to join hands and prevent cross-border movement of insurgents in the region."The first meeting among top police and intelligence officials of the four states will be organised by the Director General of Police (DGP) of Meghalaya. Consequent meetings will be held every three months on a rotational basis by the other state DGPs," Union Home Secretary V K Duggal said.

On the blockade of national highways leading to Manipur by Naga students in the recent past, Duggal said while the blockade has been lifted, Assam and Nagaland Governments assured the Centre that they would provide adequate police protection to truck drivers to ensure essential commodities reached Imphal and the common people were not affected.

The meeting also discussed Supreme Court decision to strike down as unconstituional the controversial Illegal Migrants Act, which the Opposition in Assam had termed as a tool to delay identification and deporation of illegal Bangaldeshi migrants.

Informed sources said the Centre has received reports about polarisation among political parties and groups in Assam following the apex court verdict and that Central agencies were keeping a close watch on the evolving situation in the state.

Observing that civilian killings and violence have gone down considerably in the seven North Eastern states this year as compared to the previous year, Duggal said he would hold in about ten days time another meeting of chief secretaries of Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram here to review the security scenario there. Replying to questions on the joint intelligence sharing mechanism, the Home Secretary said such a system would help check efforts by militant groups like ULFA in Assam, ATTF in Tripura, NSCN in Nagaland and NDFB of Bodos to join hands.

He maintained that while the Centre was working towards achieving political solutions to problems in the North East, the need of the hour was to address issues relating to militancy."There are pockets of problems in the region and the efforts are on to sensitise various political and other groups about the fallout of their activities on the common people. The Centre is keeping a watch on them," Duggal said.

The Centre, he said, was also working towards peaceful resolution of tensions along Assam-Nagaland borders. "Proper directions are being given to the state governments", he said, adding that the Centre was also maintaining a close vigil on problems between Garo and Khasi tribes.

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