Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi here on Sunday said that Union home minister P. Chidambram was deeply concerned over growing Maoists activities and their developing alliance with local insurgent groups in Northeast with support of Pakistan intelligence agency ISI.
Informing that his meeting with the Union home minister was on insurgency related issues, Mr Gogoi told reporters, “The militant outfits of the Northeast have joined hands to multiply their strength and in the process Pakistan’s ISI was supporting them.”
Pointing out that Maoists are also spreading their network in some of the districts of Assam, Mr Gogoi said, “We discussed the strategy to prevent the emerging threat from this new alliances of insurgent groups in the Northeast.”
The meeting, attended by top police, Army and paramilitary force officials, identified the latest link the anti-talk faction of Ulfa has established with GNLF of West Bengal.
“This aspect was also discussed in the meeting, along with plans to counter it,” said Mr Gogoi, who, however, asserted that insurgency related incidents have come down in the state.
Stating that Burma was an emerging hub and shelter point of insurgent groups of Northeast, Mr Gogoi said, “Mr Chidambaram also stressed on increasing vigil along the international border with Burma.”
Mr Gogoi said the Central government has taken up the issue with its counterpart in Burma. “However, even the government in Burma does not have much authority in those areas where the bases of Northeast militant groups are located,” added Mr Gogoi. He also clarified, “The Union home minister has made it clear that doors for negotiation with all the major outfits, including the anti-talk faction of Ulfa are always open.”
The chief minister said that he also pleaded for more security forces in Assam — 125 companies of para military forces — as the 86 companies deployed now were “not sufficient.”
“Although the Union minister felt that the law and order situation in Assam was improving, we stressed on more security forces to prevent any possible violence,” he said.