NEW DELHI, July 4 ? The State Government today asked for additional forces for counter-insurgency operations in Assam, even as it claimed that the law-and-order situation in the State has seen a marked improvement. The internal security scenario in Assam was reviewed at a meeting between the Deputy Prime Minister Sri LK Advani and Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi here today.
At the meeting that was mainly convened to discuss the Bodo issue, the Chief Minister complained about the withdrawal of para-military forces from the State by the Centre. The situation is alarming in the light of the growing activities of NSCN and KLO militants in the State, he said. Of the 158 companies stationed in the State, 10 companies were withdrawn, while 27 others have been assigned training duty. Ten companies are deputed along the disturbed Assam-Nagaland inter-state border leaving a serious shortfall of forces for counter-insurgency operations, he claimed. He said the State needed at least 111 companies for insurgency operations.
The Chief Minister also conceded that despite repeated attempts it has not been successful in wooing the militant outfits like ULFA and NDFB for talks. There has been no response from their side, he added. Meanwhile, the Chief Minister hinted at the possibility of involving Dr DN Trivedi, who is an adviser to the Planning Commission with the expert committee, in looking into the issue of encroachment. The Chief Minister met him in the Planning Commission here today to discuss the issue that is fast snowballing into a political controversy. Dr Trivedi has ideas about conservation of forest and ecology, which is quite appealing, he said.