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Promised police stations yet to become reality in BTAD

By R Dutta Choudhury

GUWAHATI, May 13 - The Bodoland Territorial Autonomous Districts (BTAD) areas, which have a history of ethnic clashes, is always vulnerable to violence, but unfortunately, the process of increasing the number of police stations in the area remains very slow.

Following the ethnic clashes in 2012, it was decided to more than double the number of police stations in the BTAD area, but the process is yet to be implemented on the ground. The official response to the delay is: �the matter is under process�.

Highly placed official sources told The Assam Tribune that the BTAD area now has 32 police stations, which is totally inadequate to deal with the situation considering the vulnerability of the area. The area witnessed a number of major ethnic clashes over the years, while activities of the militant groups always remained a major cause of concern.

Sources revealed that after the major ethnic violence in 2012, which rocked the entire nation leading to exodus of thousands of youths of Assam working in different parts of the country back to the State, a decision was taken to increase the number of police stations in the BTAD area to 80, but the decision remains on paper only.

Giving reasons for the delay in setting up of the new police stations, sources admitted that the Government did not follow up the matter vigorously after the situation improved. Sources said that as the State Government did not have adequate funds to set up the new police stations, funds were sought from the Government of India. Till date, the Centre has not provided any fund for setting up of the new police stations in the BTAD area, while the State Government also failed to take up the matter strongly with the Centre.

Meanwhile, security sources said that the jehadi elements, including some of the jehadi groups based in Pakistan, have been trying to use the 2012 riots to motivate youths to join their ranks. The riots were mentioned by leaders of such outfits, the videos of some of which are available with the Indian security agencies.

In recent times, police and security forces achieved success in the operations against jehadi elements in Chirang and Kokrajhar districts and a number of members of the Jamaat-ul-Mujadheedin, Bangladesh (JMB) have been picked up. The arrests of the jehadi elements brought to light the fact that the JMB was trying to recruit youths of the area by motivating them using the 2012 riots. Under the circumstances, the possibility of the situation in the BTAD area deteriorating again cannot be ruled out. Security sources admitted that there is an urgent need for implementing the decision to increase the number of police stations immediately to boost police presence in the remote and vulnerable areas.

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