GUWAHATI, Nov 9 � Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today reviewed the law and order situation in the State in view of the mayhem caused by the militants belonging to the anti-talk faction of the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) in various parts of Assam yesterday killing at least 20 persons, while, the strategy group of the Unified Command met here this afternoon to finalize strategies for launching an offensive against the militants.
Official sources told The Assam Tribune that Gogoi discussed the situation in the State with the Chief Secretary, Director General of Police and other senior officials and directed them to launch an all out offensive against the militants involved in such killings of innocents.
Meanwhile, the strategy group of the Unified Command also reviewed the situation and decided to intensify operations against militants. Sources said that the areas bordering Arunachal Pradesh, particularly the jungle areas are considered most vulnerable to movement of the militants belonging to the anti-talk faction of the NDFB and it was decided that special operations would be launched in those areas. Sources, however, refused to divulge details of the strategies adopted in the meeting for launching all out offensive against the militants.
A delegation of the opposition parties visited the affected areas today to take stock of the situation. Talking to this correspondent from Sijucha in Sonitpur district, where the militants gunned down eight persons, Leader of the Opposition Prafulla Kumar Mahanta said that the Government totally failed in its duty of giving protection to life and property of common people.
Mahanta said that the Government had definite information that such attacks could take place, but the warnings and inputs were not taken seriously and that is why the innocent persons lost their lives. He said that the people of the affected areas are still very apprehensive as possibility of more such attacks cannot be ruled out. The people are demanding regular patrolling by the Army in all the vulnerable areas, he added.
State Ministers also visited the affected areas today to take stock of the situation. Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma visited Belsiri, Hugrajuli and Majbat, Fisheries Minister Nurzamal Sarkar visited Sijucha area while, Transport Minister Chandan Brahma visited the affected areas of the districts of Chirang and Kokrajhar.
The Health Minister told this correspondent that the entire stretch from Udalguri to Gohpur is considered vulnerable as a number of incidents are taking place in the area in the last couple of years or so and the militants are taking advantage of the terrain to create trouble.
Sarma said that the poor road condition also affected free movement of the police and security forces and there is urgent need for launching offensive against the militants in the area. �Only pro-active operations in the area can keep the militants on the run,� he added. He said that there are also instances when the militants cross over to Arunachal Pradesh whenever a major offensive is launched in the area.
The Health Minister said that they would submit their report to the Chief Minister tomorrow so that the Government can evolve strategies to deal with militants active in the area.
