GUWAHATI, Oct 21 � Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today said that the NSCN (I-M) was fomenting trouble in NC Hills and along different border areas of the State, and that he had taken up the matter with the Centre.
Addressing a press conference, Gogoi said that the NSCN (I-M) had a long history of creating trouble and indulging in violence in border areas, including the trouble-torn NC Hills (Dima Hasao) district.
�It is a fact that the NSCN (I-M) has been found to be involved in violence in the border areas of the State. We have been taking up the matter with the Centre so that the militant group desists from such activities,� he said.
On the involvement of ULFA cadres in the recent spurt in attacks on businessmen in the city � apparently with a motive to loot cash � the Chief Minister said that the matter would be taken up with the pro-talk ULFA group if the arrested ULFA cadres were found to belong to that faction.
On the sudden transfer of City SSP Deepak Choudhury in the middle of a successful investigation into the attacks on businessmen, Gogoi merely said that the police officer�s transfer order had been issued before the investigation.
Gogoi also appealed to all militant groups in the State to come to the negotiating table by giving up arms. Answering a question, he, however, said that the State Government had never given general amnesty to surrendered militants.
�We have not withdrawn cases against ultras, and even if we want to, we cannot do so because the court invariably rejects such moves,� he said.
The Chief Minister, while admitting the recent spurt in criminal activities including murder, dacoity, etc., said that efforts were being directed to strengthen the police. �We also want to toughen the criminal branches by separating law and order from it,� he added.
