DIBRUGARH, June 21 – Claiming that the recent flush-out operations against militants in Bhutan was a major successful venture of the Bhutanese Army, the GOC of the Tezpur-based Four Corps, Lt Gen AS Jamwal on Monday stressed on improved relations with the masses of efficient information gathering. He said that the Army is aware of the reports of fresh recruitments and extortion drives by the banned ULFA, and added that information gathering is a major way to check militancy.
“Our efforts to restore peace continues, and I am sure that attempts by the militants to bring disorder to society will be firmly dealt with,” he said. Lt Gen Jamwal said that the Army will function effectively only when the masses cooperate by sharing information. He assured anonymity to informers, and added that such information goes a long way in stopping extortion and other ulterior motives. He added that the Army’s phone numbers have been prominently displayed throughout the state, where people can call and alert the forces against criminal acts by the militants and urged the people not to succumb to pressure tactics by militants.
The Army official was told of the menace of the haphazard requisitioning of vehicles by the security forces in many parts of the State. To this, both Lt Gen Jamwal and the GOC of the Second Mountain Division, Major General PS Rana said that they would look into the matter and request the respective district administration officials to cooperate in the matter.
Meanwhile, it is gathered from sources that the Army is anticipating a major surrender by militants in the coming days in upper Assam. It is reliably learnt that a close watch is being maintained on a group of militants in the upper Assam area, and that efforts are on to bring this group back to the mainstream.