GUWAHATI: Assam director general of police, Mukesh Sahay attributed the pursuance of “well thought out, calibrated” policies of the Centre and the states for militancy going down in the Northeast and the subsequent removal of Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) from Meghalaya and parts of Arunachal Pradesh.
“The militancy graph is coming down over the years owing to a well thought out calibrated policy consciously pursued by the Centre and state. Now you have the AFSPA removed from Meghalaya and parts of Arunachal Pradesh,” Sahay told reporters at the Assam Police headquarters here on Wednesday.
AFSPA was removed from Meghalaya and eight police stations (out of 16) of Arunachal Pradesh (with effect from March 31, 2018) after almost 27 years.
Until September 30, 2017, all areas falling within a 20km belt in Meghalaya bordering Assam were notified as “disturbed” areas. From October 1, 2017, areas falling within a 10km belt was notified “disturbed”.
Reports state that insurgency-related incidents in the Northeast have gone down by about 85 per cent from the levels recorded at the peak of militancy 20 years back.
The DGP, however, warned those militants still active in pockets of being dealt with sternly if they continued to wield the gun.
“But then again, the fact remains that militancy is down but not out. NSCN and Ulfa are still active and may create problems. We are for conflict resolution through negotiation. Those willing to lead a life of acceptability are welcome but we are duty bound to respond to those who still want to wield the gun,” Sahay categorically said.
Asked whether the AFSPA needed to be withdrawn from Assam with insurgency going down, he said that the decision in that regard would be taken at the right time. “At this time, we need it. How and when to withdraw it if at all, will be decided later,” the DGP said.
On the operation by the Army against NDFB (S) militiants in lower Assam’s Manas National Park and Ripu Chirang reserve forest, the DGP said that the operation was launched since general information on the hideouts of some top militants was available.
Sahay further said that crimes against women and children were no longer an urban phenomenon.
“We can deal with crimes on the street but the problem is that the crimes are committed within the four walls for which we would need support from the public, the civil society and even the media,” he said.