GUWAIIATI, Jan 9 � Though the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has mentioned activities of the Maoist rebels as one of the reasons for extending the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act in Assam, security sources claimed that the Maoists have not been able to pose a security threat to the State as of now.
Highly-placed security sources told The Assam Tribune that for quite some time, the Maoist rebels have been trying to make strong bases in Assam, but time and again, their move suffered major setbacks because of successful operations by the police and security forces. Sources revealed that the Maoists, in the last central committee meeting, also admitted that the move to establish bases in the North East suffered major setbacks because of arrests of key leaders.
On the activities of the Maoist rebels, sources said that Sadiya area of Tinsukia district is still the main base of the rebels in Assam, while the Maoists are also trying to make bases in areas like Golaghat and Dhemaji. There have been reports of the Maoists� attempts to make bases among the tea tribes in Golaghat district, but it is still not known whether any person from the tea tribes joined the rebels. Moreover, the jungle areas along the Assam-Arunachal border is still considered one of the most vulnerable to Maoist activities in this part of the country.
Sources revealed that according to inputs available with the security forces, the Maoists have at least 30 to 40 armed cadres, most of whom were trained in the bases of the rebels in Jharkhand. But they are lying low for some time after the arrests of several key members. Aditya Bora, who was earlier arrested and jumped bail, is still at large and is considered to be a key man of the Maoists in Assam, while, one Manu, whose real name is not known to the security forces, is spearheading the activities of the Upper Assam Leading Committee of the Maoists. Several attempts were made by the Maoists to form a Lower Assam Leading Committee, but the move is yet to succeed, sources said.
It may be mentioned here that in the notification extending the AFSPA in the State by one more year, the MHA said that Maoist presence was noticed in Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border areas, while, movement of the Maoists were also noticed in Golaghat, Dhemaji, Lakhimpur Tinsukia and in Namsai areas.
