Chief minister Tarun Gogoi on Monday said that the Maoists’ presence in Assam has the potential to grow into a major threat in the state. Stressing the need of a pre-emptive policy by forming an integrated action plan, Mr Gogoi claimed that there are evidences of definite Maoist presence in upper Assam districts.
In his speech at chief minister’s conference on internal security in New Delhi, Mr Gogoi, however, claimed that the Maoist movement was at a nascent stage in the state.
Attributing the recent success of the state in containing militancy to the cooperation of Bhutan and Bangladesh, Mr Gogoi also urged the Central government to take up the issue with Burma to control the militant outfits operating from that country.
On border management Mr Gogoi pointed out, “Assam has a 267 km border with Bangladesh and 269 km with Bhutan. In the past, both these countries have been used as sanctuaries by militant outfits. It is therefore important to strengthen the state’s role as a second line of defence.”
Pleading for extending Central government’s Prevention of Infiltration of Foreigners scheme, Mr Gogoi said that the scheme, which lapsed on February 29, 2012, should be extended for another five-year term as 3,153 personnel under the scheme are playing an important role in detection and deportation of foreigners in the state.
Informing that a significant work on border fencing and bordere roads were nearing completion, Mr Gogoi demanded that flood lighting of border areas should be intensified besides putting electronic surveillance barrier along the riverine border.