NEW DELHI, Nov 3 ? Calling for a joint action plan between the north eastern states and the Centre to counter attacks on soft targets, Union Home Minister, Shivraj Patil today said that a holistic approach addressing the concerns of the region combined with strong anti-insurgency measures was the way forward to a final solution to the problems.
The Union Home Minister, however, cautioned the intelligence agencies and chiefs of state police forces against being complacent asking them to utilise the ceasefire period to collect maximum information on the outfits for future use.
?In some states we are talking to the insurgent groups but it is said that they are using the time to regroup. If they can use the time to regroup, the government machineries also should use the time to collect more information about them so that whenever occasion comes we can use them,? he opined.
The Union Home Minister was delivering the inaugural address at the three-day 39th Conference of the DGPs and IGPs that got under way here this morning. Throwing clearest hints to the security agencies that Armed Force Special Powers Act (AFSPA) may be on its way out, Sri Patil said that it does not help if there are laws that are considered draconian.
But he added in the same breath that at the same time if there was a law that was ineffective, it would not help either. The Home Minister yesterday announced the decision to constitute an expert committee to examine the AFSPA bowing to the demands for review of the Act by agitators in Manipur.
Dwelling at length on the situation in the Region, the Union Home Minister in his first face to face encounter with the country?s top police officials said that in any counter insurgency strategy for the North-east, however, has to take into account the mosaic of cultures, the often competing demands of different sections of the people, the economic underdevelopment and perceived sense of remoteness of the Region.
He asserted that there have been some improvements in the situation in the North Eastern States. Between 1999-2001, violent incidents perpetuated by underground outfits came down by about 24 per cent.
Although the number of incidents per year has remained at almost the same level since 2002, the killings of civilians and security force has remained at almost the same level since 2002, the killing of civilians and security forces personnel has declined by about 28 per cent from 1999-2003.
There has also been perceptible decline in public support for both the ULFA and NDFB due to effective counter-insurgency operations and the overwhelming support extended by the common people towards the peace initiatives of the Government of India. The flush out operation by Royal Bhutanese Army last December also had a positive impact in curbing militancy in the North-east.
The recent violent incidents in Assam and Nagaland on August 15 and on October 2 and 3 have led to further erosion in public support for these militant groups. Sustained efforts at conflict resolution have started paying dividends. Two militant outfits active in Karbi Anglong and N.C.Hills in Assam have entered into agreement regarding cessation of hostilities.
One faction of the NLFT and another militant organisation in Meghalaya has also signed suspension of operations agreement, he said. Since the signing of the ceasefire agreement with NSCN (I-M), the violence profile in Nagaland has registered a sharp decline in killings.
However, the continuing factional violence between the two Naga groups remains a matter of concern. The continuance of the ceasefire has generated hopes among the Naga people of a permanent settlement to the Naga issue, he said.
While terrorism and insurgencies attract public attention, the threat to national security emanating from espionage activities of a hostile neighbour sometimes does not acquire the same decree of prominence. As many as 108 espionage modules operated by Pak ISI have been neutralised since January 1999.
He underlined the need to further synergies efforts and upgrade counter-intelligence units. State Police forces would also need to build up their counter-intelligence capabilities, particularly at strategic locations, he suggested.
Earlier, in his welcome address, Director Intelligence Bureau, A.K.Doval said insurgency and endemic violence in North-east was a matter of concern. The violence level has remained low and striking capabilities of ULFA, NDFB and NLFT have been dented and have remained limited to sensational strikes. He said the security situation in the North-east would be reviewed in the conference.