GUWAHATI, March 13 – Maintaining law and order in a state like Assam during the elections is always a tough proposition and police and security forces have been instructed to adopt a “zero-tolerance policy” against any militant found to be moving around with weapons. Though a number of militant outfits are under cease-fire agreement and some others have expressed desire to come for talks, no one is ready to take any chances.
Highly placed official sources told The Assam Tribune that around 400 additional companies of central paramilitary force personnel would be deployed in Assam during the polls to ensure violence free elections. Sources said that 100 companies of central forces have already reached the state after the declaration of the dates of the polls and the rest would be deployed in phased manner soon. In fact, the State Government had sought 400 companies of additional forces for the polls and the Government of India has assured to provide it to meet the requirement.
Sources revealed that the police and security forces engaged in counter insurgency operations have been directed to deal with militants with strong hands to prevent them from indulging in any violence in the run up to the elections.
Replying to a question on the possibility of the militants under cease-fire with the government indulging in violence during the polls, sources said that anyone found to be moving around with weapons would be treated as a militant irrespective of whether the person is a member of an outfit under cease-fire. Same rule would be applied in case of members of the pro-talk faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and the forces have been directed to adopt zero tolerance policy in this regard.
The pro-talk group members of the ULFA will also be shifted to designated camps soon like members of the other militant groups under cease-fire agreement. But the process will take some time as setting up of the camps will take some time. Under the present circumstances, it is unlikely that the process of shifting of the pro-talk members of the ULFA to the designated camps will be completed before the elections, sources added.
Meanwhile, recent intelligence inputs of the field level members of the anti-talk faction of the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) requesting the leaders of the outfit staying in Bangladesh and Myanmar to send weapons to the cadres in Assam has created tension among the police and security forces.
On the other hand, security personnel are apprehensive of possibility of the anti-talk faction of the ULFA headed by commander-in-chief of the outfit Paresh Baruah indulging in violence in the run up to the polls. As the bond between the militant groups having bases in Myanmar is strengthened in recent times, the possibility of the ULFA hardliners engaging members of the other outfits also cannot be ruled out and a close watch is being maintained on the situation, security sources added.
the assamtribune
Highly placed official sources told The Assam Tribune that around 400 additional companies of central paramilitary force personnel would be deployed in Assam during the polls to ensure violence free elections. Sources said that 100 companies of central forces have already reached the state after the declaration of the dates of the polls and the rest would be deployed in phased manner soon. In fact, the State Government had sought 400 companies of additional forces for the polls and the Government of India has assured to provide it to meet the requirement.
Sources revealed that the police and security forces engaged in counter insurgency operations have been directed to deal with militants with strong hands to prevent them from indulging in any violence in the run up to the elections.
Replying to a question on the possibility of the militants under cease-fire with the government indulging in violence during the polls, sources said that anyone found to be moving around with weapons would be treated as a militant irrespective of whether the person is a member of an outfit under cease-fire. Same rule would be applied in case of members of the pro-talk faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and the forces have been directed to adopt zero tolerance policy in this regard.
The pro-talk group members of the ULFA will also be shifted to designated camps soon like members of the other militant groups under cease-fire agreement. But the process will take some time as setting up of the camps will take some time. Under the present circumstances, it is unlikely that the process of shifting of the pro-talk members of the ULFA to the designated camps will be completed before the elections, sources added.
Meanwhile, recent intelligence inputs of the field level members of the anti-talk faction of the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) requesting the leaders of the outfit staying in Bangladesh and Myanmar to send weapons to the cadres in Assam has created tension among the police and security forces.
On the other hand, security personnel are apprehensive of possibility of the anti-talk faction of the ULFA headed by commander-in-chief of the outfit Paresh Baruah indulging in violence in the run up to the polls. As the bond between the militant groups having bases in Myanmar is strengthened in recent times, the possibility of the ULFA hardliners engaging members of the other outfits also cannot be ruled out and a close watch is being maintained on the situation, security sources added.
the assamtribune
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