Guwahati, May 14: Dispur is waiting for the government to form at the Centre so that it can discuss the need to rein in Naga militants who are allegedly inciting ethnic clashes in North Cachar Hills. The decision to move the Centre about Naga militants was taken on the eve of chief minister Tarun Gogoi’s visit to the district tomorrow to take stock of the situation.
It was prompted by the recent police report that the Khaplang faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim, which is in a ceasefire with the Centre, had fuelled the recent ethnic clashes in the troubled district.
A source said the state government would also take up the matter with Nagaland, where the militants are based and have their designated camps.
Nagaland borders North Cachar Hills district, which also has a significant Naga population.
“We have in the past pointed out instances of incursions by militants from the state into Assam, but it has not worked. This time, the government is going to pursue the matter till its logical conclusion. The Naga militants’ depredations inside Assam must be stopped,” the source said.
The state government will swing into action as soon as a new government takes shape in Delhi “or may be a few days after it settles down to business.” Gogoi, too, today said “elements from neighbouring” states are fomenting trouble in the district. Though the chief minister stopped short of naming these “elements”, police officials posted in the district have been accusing the Khaplang faction of the NSCN for the recent ethnic strife in the district.
The deputy inspector-general of police of south Assam, Dipak Kumar, who has been camping in Haflong to supervise counter-insurgency operations in the district, recently named Dithar Jeme, the finance secretary of the NSCN (K), as the man behind the attacks.
Regarding the current situation in the hill district, Gogoi will hold a meeting, to be attended by police and civil administration officials, apart from the army top brass, in Haflong tomorrow, sources in the chief minister’s office said.
Stating that instilling confidence among the people of the district would be his top most priority, Gogoi in a press communiqué said steps would be taken to rush security forces to the troublespots as fast as possible.
“Because of the difficult terrain and absence of good roads, most parts of the district are not easily accessible. For easy and quick movement of security forces, we are taking up road construction projects in the district in a major way,” chief minister said.
The promise of road projects came on a day when the Congress-led government in the state completed three years in power.
Gogoi said the biggest achievement of his government during his uninterrupted eight-year stint was its ability to bring about a change in the people’s mindset.
“People are now thinking more positively. That feeling of despair and hopelessness that existed before 2001 is no longer there. There is hope and confidence among the people and this is reflected in all spheres,” Gogoi said.
Despite of problems like flood and insurgency, the state’s growth has not stalled, Gogoi said.
He said the per capita income and land valuation has increased, indicating that the state was firmly on the growth path. The chief minister also reviewed the state’s flood preparedness.
Pulling up the water resources department for failing to repair all the 84 embankments that were breached last season, Gogoi said the repairs should be completed by May 31.
Source: TELEGRAPH INDIA
It was prompted by the recent police report that the Khaplang faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim, which is in a ceasefire with the Centre, had fuelled the recent ethnic clashes in the troubled district.
A source said the state government would also take up the matter with Nagaland, where the militants are based and have their designated camps.
Nagaland borders North Cachar Hills district, which also has a significant Naga population.
“We have in the past pointed out instances of incursions by militants from the state into Assam, but it has not worked. This time, the government is going to pursue the matter till its logical conclusion. The Naga militants’ depredations inside Assam must be stopped,” the source said.
The state government will swing into action as soon as a new government takes shape in Delhi “or may be a few days after it settles down to business.” Gogoi, too, today said “elements from neighbouring” states are fomenting trouble in the district. Though the chief minister stopped short of naming these “elements”, police officials posted in the district have been accusing the Khaplang faction of the NSCN for the recent ethnic strife in the district.
The deputy inspector-general of police of south Assam, Dipak Kumar, who has been camping in Haflong to supervise counter-insurgency operations in the district, recently named Dithar Jeme, the finance secretary of the NSCN (K), as the man behind the attacks.
Regarding the current situation in the hill district, Gogoi will hold a meeting, to be attended by police and civil administration officials, apart from the army top brass, in Haflong tomorrow, sources in the chief minister’s office said.
Stating that instilling confidence among the people of the district would be his top most priority, Gogoi in a press communiqué said steps would be taken to rush security forces to the troublespots as fast as possible.
“Because of the difficult terrain and absence of good roads, most parts of the district are not easily accessible. For easy and quick movement of security forces, we are taking up road construction projects in the district in a major way,” chief minister said.
The promise of road projects came on a day when the Congress-led government in the state completed three years in power.
Gogoi said the biggest achievement of his government during his uninterrupted eight-year stint was its ability to bring about a change in the people’s mindset.
“People are now thinking more positively. That feeling of despair and hopelessness that existed before 2001 is no longer there. There is hope and confidence among the people and this is reflected in all spheres,” Gogoi said.
Despite of problems like flood and insurgency, the state’s growth has not stalled, Gogoi said.
He said the per capita income and land valuation has increased, indicating that the state was firmly on the growth path. The chief minister also reviewed the state’s flood preparedness.
Pulling up the water resources department for failing to repair all the 84 embankments that were breached last season, Gogoi said the repairs should be completed by May 31.
Source: TELEGRAPH INDIA
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