GUWAHATI, Feb 11 � Though the Army, police and Central paramilitary forces have achieved considerable success in the counter-insurgency operations since the beginning of this year, recovery of the arms of the militants and ensuring security in the �ethnic fault lines of the State� remain a major challenge before the forces.
Talking to The Assam Tribune, highly placed Army sources admitted that only about 50 per cent of success in finishing off the Songbijit faction of the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) has been achieved despite arrest of around 150 cadres and overground workers of the outfit. Sources admitted that the top leaders of the outfit are still at large and they are believed to be in the neighbouring states or countries. Moreover, another area of concern is the weapons of the outfit. Though a substantial number of weapons have been recovered, majority of those are small arms as the hardcore members managed to hide the sophisticated weapons and are now moving around with small arms. �It is a fact that the forces managed to recover some sophisticated weapons like AK series rifles and M16 rifles, but majority of the weapons recovered are small arms,� sources admitted.
Sources said that according to an estimate, around a hundred cadres of the outfit including hardcore members are still inside the State, but most of them have started moving without weapons, while some went deep into the jungles. Though the Army and other forces have started launching operations in the jungles, it is like �searching for a needle in the haystack� without pinpointed information.
On reports that some militants moved into Arunachal Pradesh, Army sources said that as per provisions of the Disturbed Areas Act, the Army can move into 20 kilometres inside the state and operations are going on in those areas. However, there is need for augmenting the capacity building of the police force of Arunachal Pradesh.
Army sources further revealed that ensuring security in the ethnic fault lines of the State is another challenge before the forces on the ground. Sources pointed out that the possibility of retaliations to the killings of more than 70 persons in December 23 cannot be ruled out and all the forces should be careful to prevent any such incident. No peaceful person should face trouble for the fault of a handful of terrorists, sources added.
