As fresh violence gripped Assam, the Union home ministry on Tuesday got inputs of lower-rung cadres of insurgent outfits jumping into the fray to fuel the violence. The Intelligence Bureau has got inputs of presence of National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) cadres in the ensuing violence in the state. Central agencies are also keeping a close watch on suspected attempts being made by the anti-talk Ulfa faction led by its military chief Paresh Baruah to provoke the disgruntled elements where non-Assamese people may be targeted. The MHA and state government have been apprised of the threats prompting them to initiate “confidence building measures’’ between various communities. A high level meeting is also being convened by the Centre on Wednesday to take stock of the infiltration attempts being made on the India-Bangladesh border and renewed steps adopted by the security agencies concerned to curb it effectively.
There is growing unhappiness in the Centre over the Assam government failing to rein in the ring leaders of the clashing groups even as several lives have been lost since July when the clashes first broke out between the Bodo tribals and Muslim settlers.
Union home secretary R.K. Singh on Tuesday spoke to Assam chief secretary N.K. Das and director general of police J.N. Chaudhury calling for “tough’’ action against anti-social elements and those outfits trying to vitiate the atmosphere.
The high-level meet, convened by the MHA on Wednesday, will review the “vulnerability mapping” of the entire 4,100 km of border with Bangladesh with the BSF identifying those areas which are vulnerable from the point of human trafficking and illegal immigration.