GUWAHATI, Jan 18 - The Centre is of the view that improvement of relation with the neighbouring countries would lead to overall improvement of the law and order situation in the North East region.
The Centre has also asked the States of the region to improve �people-centric policing� so that the faith of the common people on the criminal justice system can be restored.
Highly placed sources in the Government of India told The Assam Tribune that improvement of relations with Bangladesh had a major impact on the security scenario in the North East as the Government of the neighbouring country took strong action against the leaders of the militant groups taking shelter in that country for years. The improvement of relations with Myanmar will also have a major impact on the overall security scenario in the region, sources asserted. The Government has also decided to improve security along the border with Myanmar, but the policy decision on implementation of the High Power Committee report in this regard is yet to be taken.
Meanwhile, with militant activities becoming all-time low in the last three decades, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has asked the Governments of the States of the region to improve "people centric policing". Sources said that though militancy is on the wane, kidnappings for ransom has remained a cause of concern as criminal gangs are also resorting to abductions to earn easy money. The most unfortunate issue is that in most such cases, the criminals involved are not arrested or prosecuted and the investigations are not taken to the logical conclusion. That is why, the MHA has asked the Governments of the North East states to deal with the problem and to take effective steps to augment the justice delivery system.
Sources admitted that the prosecution and conviction rate in most of the states of the region is a cause of concern and it is believed that the people are losing faith on the system, which is a dangerous trend. Only improvement of the prosecution and conviction rate can restore the faith of the people in the system and the MHA is of the view that the police forces of the NE states should take advantage of the fact that militancy is on the wane to improve the "people centric policing" so that the people do not lose faith on the system.
