NAGAON, June 23 : The Government of India has prepared an action plan for the North-east India to flush out the militants operating from different hideouts in the neighbouring countries. Disclosing this at a press conference here today, Union Defence Minister George Fernandes said that the action plan had been prepared with the help of the neighbouring countries with an eye on getting desired results in containing militancy. He, however, refused to divulge more on the action plan.
On supply of arms and ammunition across the Indo-Myanmar border by the militant groups in the region, Fernandes said, the security forces have already stepped up vigilance along the international border. ?The existing companies of security forces are capable of handling any adverse situation,? he added. When asked whether the Centre had taken any step to start dialogues with the ULFA and other militant groups of the region, he said that the Centre did not have any proposal at present. ?Though the NSCN groups have come forward to findout an amicable solution to the insurgency problem, the ULFA leadership has not shown any keen interest in this regard,? the Defence Minister said. In this context, Fernandes revealed that in spite of the situation officers of the security forces had been entrusted with the responsibility of initiating the process to convince the leaders of the militant outfits to come forward for talks.
On the prevailing situation along the Indo-Pak border, the Defence Minister said that though infiltration had been decreasing across the international border, several militant outfits were still active in Jammu and Kashmir. ?Considering the gravity of the situation, there is no chance of withdrawing the troops from the international border he added. The Defence Minister, who is also a senior leader of the Samata Party addressed a workers? meeting today. In his address, Fernandes appealed to the workers to gear up the activity of the party. During his speech, he expressed the hope that the Samata Party would emerge a major factor in the State politics in near future. Later, the Defence Minister paid a visit to Mohkhuli Army camp and held a series of discussions with the senior Army officials.