GUWAHATI, May 15 � The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has asked the State Governments of the North East region to take all necessary steps to prevent the Maoist rebel groups from establishing their roots in the region. However, the Centre would send additional a force to deal with Maoists only of it is felt necessary.
Highly placed sources in the MHA told The Assam Tribune that so far, the Maoists are active only in one part of Assam and they sometimes sneak into Arunachal Pradesh for shelter. The Government of Arunachal Pradesh informed the MHA that no local youth of the state joined the Maoists but sometimes, Maoist elements from Assam sneak into the state. The MHA has asked the Government of Arunachal Pradesh to deal with any Maoist element who manages to sneak into the state strongly.
MHA is of the view that at present, the strength of the armed groups of the Maoists in the North East is not much and the State Police forces are fully capable of dealing with the situation. Recently, the Assam Police managed to bust a hideout of the Maoist rebels near Sadiya and killed four rebels. The Centre would consider sending additional forces to deal with Maoists only if is required, sources added.
Sources said that the Maoists are yet to make their presence felt in any of the NE states apart from parts of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. Though the Maoist rebels signed an agreement with the PLA of Manipur way back in 2008, that was mainly for sharing weapons and the Maoists have not tried to established roots in Manipur. In case of Assam also, the strength of the armed group of the Maoists is not alarming and the Assam police is capable of dealing with the situation, MHA sources said.
Meanwhile, sources said that the presence of the Maoists in Arunachal Pradesh was discussed during the recent visit of the Union Home Minister P Chidambaram to the state on Saturday to review the security scenario. Chidambaram also asked the Arunachal Pradesh Government to deal with Maoists strongly.
However, the issue of presence of Maoists was the main point in the agenda of discussion and the situation in Tirap and Changlang districts was the main issue for talks as a number of militant groups of the region managed to establish bases in that area.
MHA sources said that the Centre has given a plan to Arunachal Pradesh Government for strengthening its own police force and creation of new police stations in Tirap and Changlang districts. The Union Home Minister reviewed the progress of implementation of the plan as it is felt that security dominance in Tirap and Changlang districts must be improved to prevent militants from using the area as their transit route to Myanmar.
