GUWAHATI, June 18 � Prime Minister Narendra Modi has directed the concerned officials, including the National Security Adviser (NSA), to take effective steps for restoration of peace in the North-east for economic growth of the region and for successful implementation of the Act East Policy.
Highly placed sources in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) told The Assam Tribune that the Prime Minister made it clear to the officers concerned that the gun culture in the region should come to an end. However, at the same time, he also made it clear that no innocent Indian citizen should be harassed while trying to bring an end to violence and militancy in the region.
The Prime Minister�s directive came after the security and intelligence agencies reported that violence is one of the reasons for slow economic growth of the region. The agencies also reported that pilferage of funds is much higher in North-east than in other parts of the country because of insurgency. It is also believed that successful implementation of the Act East Policy would be difficult if the law-and-order situation in the region does not improve immediately, sources said.
Meanwhile, sources said that the recent operation by the Indian Army in Myanmar was planned by the NSA and it was cleared at the highest level. The exact number of casualties suffered by the militants is yet to be ascertained.
Sources revealed that from the intercepts of the communication of the militant groups, it was clear that around 30 militants lost their lives in the operation by the Indian Army, where two camps of the ultras were ravaged. Most of those killed belonged to Manipur-based militant group KYKL, while around 7 to 8 members of the NSCN(K) were also killed. The intercepts also proved that the operation created panic among the members of the militant groups and the leaders were having a tough time in reassuring the cadres.
Sources said that the operation was not a one-off one and the possibility of such operations in future cannot be ruled out. The government has adopted a hit-back policy and would launch operations whenever any Indian citizen is killed.
On the visit of the National Security Adviser Ajit Doval to Myanmar, sources said that he would hold talks on the security scenario, particularly the presence of militant groups in Myanmar. He is also going to request the Myanmarese government to accept India�s proposal for joint operations against the militants using the territory of Myanmar.
