The home ministry has decided to go tough against militant groups carrying out rampant extortion in Assam and other north-eastern states.
Disclosing that the Assam government would be asked to take stern measure to stop extortion in North Cachar, Karbi Anglong and Bodoland Territorial Council areas, joint secretary home (Northeast) Shambhu Singh told this newspaper that anti-talk faction of Ulfa was also trying hard to extort business houses and private companies and making frequent calls to mount pressure to pay.
Informing that many business houses are not only ignoring the Ulfa’s extortion demand but also approaching them to lodge complaints, Mr Singh said that home ministry has referred several extortion related cases to the Assam government for action. Asserting that elusive Ulfa chief Paresh Baruah himself was calling up businessmen for extortion, Mr Singh said, “Ministry was keeping a close watch over the extortion related cases and going to direct the state to ensure safety and security of those businessmen coming forward to lodge complaints.”
Admitting that extortion was rampant in Bodoland Territorial Council, North Cachar and Karbi Anglong area, Mr Singh said that it should be stopped at any cost and home ministry is going to ask the states to follow the rule of zero tolerance on extortion related issues.
Admitting that the law and order situation of Manipur was still disturbing, Mr Singh said that situation in Assam and Meghalaya has improved but still there is no scope of complacency on counter-insurgency front. He regretted that factional clashes were still the biggest concern in Nagaland.
“We are determined to stop the factional clashes, if necessary home ministry may ask the state to take firm steps to check it again,” he said.
Fearing that Left wing insurgent group may also try to capitalize on anti-dam movements in Assam, Mr Singh said that slain Maoist leader Kishenji had done a lot of groundwork and laid foundation of Maoist modules in Assam and Manipur.
“We need to keep a close watch over the situation to ensure that Left wing insurgent groups did not succeed in infiltrating anti-dam movements,” Mr Singh added.