GUWAHATI, Dec 16 ? The Assam Government has submitted a comprehensive scheme for the rehabilitation of the surrendered militants to the Central Government.
This was disclosed by the Minister of State for Home, Rockybul Hussain, in reply to the discussions on the cut motions on the supplementary demands for grant for vigilance commission and rehabilitation of surrendered militants for the current financial year in the State Assembly today.
The Minister informed the House that the Assam Chief Minister had requested the Centre to extend the facilities extended to the surrendered militants in Jammu and Kashmir to the surrendered militants of Assam. He said that the Government provides a monthly stipend to the surrendered militants who stay in the camps for a period of one year and the process has been streamlined to make the payments through bank account.
Referring to allegations of involvement of some surrendered militants in anti-social activities, Hussain asserted that if any surrendered militant involves in anti-social activities, the Government would deal with him firmly. Hussain informed the House that the Government is committed to implement all the clauses of the accord signed with the Bodo Liberation Tiger (BLT). He said that the State Government has reached an agreement with the Centre, as per which, 1000 former BLT militants would be appointed in the Central forces.
Referring to the abduction of Pratul Dev, the Minister said that the State Government has written to the Centre to hand over the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Earlier moving the cut motion, Dilip Kumar Saikia (AGP) alleged that the surrendered militants were not getting their stipend regularly.
He said that according to reports, a number of surrendered militants have threatened to return to the jungles because of the failure of the Government to rehabilitate them. He called upon the Government to prepare a comprehensive scheme for the rehabilitation of the surrendered militants. He also pointed out that a section of the surrendered militants were involved in anti-social activities, and called upon the Government to check the same.
Bimalangshu Roy (BJP), said that the law-and-order situation in the Barak valley was deteriorating. He said that the Government should take the issue of rehabilitation of the surrendered militants seriously. He also referred to the kidnapping of NRI Pratul Dev and expressed concern at the failure of the Government to detect him.
Premadhar Bora (TGP) expressed concern at the delay in taking action against those involved in the green house scam. Hemendra Nath Brahma (BDLP) stressed the need for immediate rehabilitation of the former BLT cadres. He called upon the Government to take steps for the withdrawal of cases against the former BLT militants.