Militancy in NE declining, claims Home Ministry
Source: Hueiyen News Service
New Delhi, May 08 2013:
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Tuesday said that militancy in the northeastern region is losing its grip and influence among the people due to consistent efforts made by the Centre and state governments to counter and eliminate various ultra outfits.
Joint Secretary (North East) in MHA, Shambhu Singh, said that militancy has reduced considerably in states such as Assam, Meghalaya and Manipur.
"The militant movement has reduced in north-eastern India.
There have been concrete developments in Manipur, Meghalaya and Assam, where the militants are losing grip.
Our efforts to counter militancy will continue," he said.
Singh further said that the Central Government is ready to for parleys with the rebels, if they represent themselves as a single group and not under the banner of unruly factions.
"Our message to militants is very clear that we are ready for dialogue with one organisation representing rebels.
We will not talk to every minor or disoriented group," he said.
Separatist movements have riddled India's remote northeast region for decades and to avoid militancy and attain peace, efforts are being made to ink peace pacts.
States in northeastern India are encouraging more and more misguided youths to abjure violence and join the mainstream of the society by initiating developmental programmes.
Assam has been a focus of separatist insurgency for decades, but it has also recently suffered due to the bomb attacks that were allegedly undertaken by Islamist militants operating from neighbouring Bangladesh.
Ringed by China, Myanmar, Bangladesh and Bhutan, India's strategically important northeast is home to more than 200 tribes and has been racked by separatist revolts.