NEW DELHI, April 29 � An end to the �gun culture� in the State may be in sight, with the Centre firming up plans to insist on surrender of weapons by militant outfits engaged in talks with the government.
Confirming Centre�s plans, Union Home Minister, P Chidambaram said the issue of surrender of weapons by the militant outfits is part of the talks. The Centre is currently engaged in talks with DHD, UPDS, NDFB and pro-talk group of ULFA.
�With ULFA, we had only one round of talks that is a very preliminary but with the NDFB pro-talk faction, talks have progressed,� he said.
�The idea is that the group that is engaged in talks with the government must go to camps, surrender their weapons and abide by the ceasefire or suspension of operation rules. The rules I think are enough to deal with the situation,� the Union Home Minister, who was presenting the monthly report of the Home Ministry, said.
�As for talks with ULFA, as I said earlier, it would resume once the new government is in place. And I am confident that it would be our government,� Chidambaram said.
Sources said that the next round of talks with ULFA has been re-scheduled and now likely to be held in June.
The Home Minister�s statement assumes significance in light of the reluctance of the surrendered militants to give away their illegal weapons.
The recent incident of open use of illegal weapon in a shootout at Guwahati city has brought the issue to the forefront.
The weapons are believed to be in the possession of two senior leaders of the ULFA, but they are undecided on whether the outfit wants to double-lock the arms, that is keep it in joint custody with one set of keys remaining with the government and the other with the militant group.
Double-locking is a standard practice of the government with surrendered militant groups during negotiation � an exception being the NSCN-IM.
More recently, the pro-talks NDFB double-locked its weapons. The government put the same argument before ULFA as a pre-requisite for a formal dialogue.
The Centre and the Assam Government have agreed to allocate land to the group in Nalbari district to set up a designated camp for the ULFA cadres.
Officials said it is here that the weapons may be deposited.
Meanwhile, top official of the Home Ministry has confirmed that the Centre has paid money to the pro-talk group to meet day-to-day expenditure. �We have to pay them some money otherwise how would they survive,� the official asked.
He was reacting to reports about the pro-talk group being handed over Rs 40 lakh as first installment. The report, however, has been denied by the pro-talk group.
Meanwhile, a meeting has been scheduled between the Home Secretary and Defence Secretary to sort out the issue of replacing Assam Rifles with Border Security Force (BSF) along the Indo-Myanmar Border.
A proposal by the Home Ministry mooted in keeping with the suggestion by Manipur Government to relieve Assam Rifles from the duty of guarding the Indo-Myanmar Border, has been opposed by the Defence Ministry.
�There is no agreement on the matter and its is now to be decided at a meeting between the Home Secretary and Defence Secretary,� said Chidambaram.
About the progress of the border fencing project on the Indo-Bangladesh border, the Home Minister reported that 5 Km of fencing and 11 Km of road works were completed in April under Phase II. At least 4 Km of fencing were replaced under Phase III, besides poles for flood lighting were erected on a length of 20 Km and cables were laid on 7 Km stretch, he added.
Meanwhile, ceasefire between Government of India and National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-K) has been extended for a further period of one year with effect from Friday, following expiry of the pact yesterday. A formal ceasefire pact with Khaplang faction was signed on April 28, 2001.