MHA records show that militancy has so far claimed 63,000 lives. Of them 9,500 were security personnel.

THE ISI has opened new routes of infiltration. It is banking on its contacts in Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan to gain access to the North-East and then to the rest of the country. Obviously, it finds it tough to penetrate the barriers on our western border.. The Home Ministry officials shared this assessment with the MPs who attended the Parliamentary consultative committee meeting chaired by L K Advani.

Heavyweights like Shivraj Patil, Gulam Nabi Azad (Congress), Somnath Chatterjee (CPI-M), Jayanta Rongpi and Holkoman Haokip from the North-East attended. MHA records show that 110 ISI modules have been busted. Militancy claimed 63,000 lives. Of them 9,500 were security force personnel while 7.5 lakh people were rendered homeless. The MHA is planning to decentralise the monitoring of end use of foreign funds received by NGOs, educational institute and charitable organisations. The Centre also proposes to set up a financial intelligence unit. The decentralisation of the monitoring of the foreign fund is likely to have an impact in the North-East because of allegations of misuse of such foreign funds given to churches and other religious organisations. Yet another plan is to set up a task force on intelligence besides sensitizing the States on the emerging situation. Deputy Prime Minister L. K. Advani told the members that despite appeals, ULFA has not responded. Only public pressure on ULFA will bring them to talks, he felt. Acknowledging that the ULFA has been operating with impunity from Bhutan, Mr. Advani said “We are coordinating with the Royal Government to tackle the menace”. The MHA has reservation on according Schedule Tribe (Hills) status to Bodos living in the hill districts of Karbi Anglong and North Cachar Hills. Government’s claim about decline in violence in the North-East was contested by the members from the region. And they pointed out that the number of incidents of violence in the region was rather high given the fact that the Centre currently has ceasefire agreement with five major insurgent outfits.

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