GUWAHATI, Dec 20 � Identifying the Maoist threat as the new challenge for the security agencies of the North East, Governor JB Patnaik today said that the Maoist are functioning under various organisations among students, youth, tea labourers and mega dam resistance forum.
He also said that the Paresh Baruah faction of the ULFA is also in constant touch with the Maoist and is willing to provide both sophisticated arms and requisite funds.
Addressing the topmost officers of police and other security agencies at the valedictory function of the 21st DGPs/IGPs and Heads of COPs conference at Raj Bhawan, Patnaik said, "Although significant improvement has taken place in the law and order scenario of the North Eastern States, the low intensity war against the lawfully established Government for the last few decades is far from over. Now a new insurgent element has entered the scene. It is the Maoists."
The Governor further said that the Maoists have silently intruded into Assam and have established links with the Manipur-based outfit PLA and even formed regional committees for upper Assam, middle Assam and lower Assam.
"They are mostly active in Dhemaji and Tinsukia districts bordering with lower Dibang valley and Lohit districts of Arunachal Pradesh. There are enough evidences of the Maoist sending their cadres to Orissa and Jharkhand to undergo training under the hardcore Maoist leadership," Patnaik said, urging the senior officials to take the danger signal seriously.
He also vouched for early steps on the part of civil administration to bring the isolated areas to the mainstream of development so that the anti-social elements are denied easy recruitment of the youth from these areas.
"Another area of concern for us is that most of the surrendered militants of DHD, ULFA and NDFB are indulging in criminal activities like abduction and dacoity because of their delayed rehabilitation into civic life," Governor pointed out, adding further that security and development are two sides of the same coin.
