From Our Correspondent
Guwahati: Peace initiatives with various insurgent groups in Assam and concern over Maoists attempt to strike firm roots in parts of Assam were in the focus of security review meeting of Union Home Minister P Chidambaram with Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi here on Thursday afternoon.
Chidambaram held a meeting with Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi at the VIP lounge of the airport here, en route to New Delhi from his two-day visit to Manipur. State DGP, Chief Secretary and Home Commissioner were also present in the meeting.
Coming out of the meeting, Gogoi said discussions basically revolved around the progress so far made in peace initiatives with different outfits like the ULFA, NDFB (both the factions) and addressed the concerns about Maoists trying to find a foothold in Assam.
“The Union Home minister stressed on development along inter-state border areas, where the Maoists are trying to gain a foothold. We have to nip the problem at the bud and development is a strong counter to the Maoist propaganda,” Gogoi said.
In response to Assam government’s request for additional central forces to tackle the Maoist threat, Chidambaram said it was not possible to send extra troops immediately but assured of to consider it.
Regarding the willingness shown by the faction of outlawed National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) led by Ranjan Daimary, Chidambaram asked for a report from the state government about the sincerity of the outfit in starting a peace negotiation.
“The Centre will send its interlocutor to start the peace process with the NDFB’s anti-talks faction depending on the latter’s sincerity,” Gogoi said.
It may be mentioned that Ranjan Daimary is now lodged in jail and has been named the prime accused in October 30, 2008 serial blasts case. The government is already talking with other faction of the NDFB led by Govinda Basumatary.
The security review was held in the backdrop of the anti-talks faction of the ULFA led by Paresh Barua threatening to target security forces and ‘Indian politicians’ and reports about about CPI (Maoists) trying to take foothold in parts of eastern Assam and neighbouring areas in Arunachal Pradesh.
Chief minister Tarun Gogoi had earlier dismissed the threat issued by anti-talks faction of the ULFA saying that the outfit was no longer potent to strike terror. However, he expressed concern over reports about Maoists activities in the state.