Increased targeting of non locals alarming : Shinde
Source: The Sangai Express / Press Trust of India
New Delhi, November 21 2013:
Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said that the increased targeting of non Manipuris in Manipur is an alarming trend.
Addressing the annual Directors General of Police Conference here, Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said agreements for ceasefire and suspension of operations have been struck with several insurgent groups in the North East.
However, many of these agreements are being flouted by militants who are indulging in extortions affecting the lives of common people.
Pointing out that recently there have been public protests in certain areas against such extortion activities, the Union Home Minister said the State Police Forces need to enforce these agreements so that relief could be provided to the people.
Shinde said that there has been an improvement in the general security scenario in the North East.
Mizoram and Sikkim have remained peaceful while Tripura has shown significant improvement.
Pursuant to the policy of the Government, a number of insurgent outfits in Assam like ULFA/pro-talk and NDFB of Ranjan Daimary have come forward for peace talks, he said while adding that some others, such as the anti-talk faction of ULFA have spurned the overtures of the Government and their leaders have taken refuge in neighbouring countries, particularly Myanmar.
"An effective border management is, therefore, needed to prevent trans-border movements of such outfits.
The lower Assam and Karbi Anglong areas of the State remain vulnerable to ethnic and communal tensions because of demands of separate states by various groups.
Special efforts are required to check the growing mistrust, particularly between Bodos and non - Bodos in the Bodoland Territorial Areas District and its adjoining areas," Shinde remarked.
In Meghalaya, the Garo insurgency remains a concern.
In Manipur, the increased targeting of non Manipuris is an alarming trend.
In Nagaland and in three districts of Arunachal Pradesh, namely, Tirap, Changlang and Longding, inter factional clashes and extortion activities of NSCN/IM and NSCN/K continue to cause considerable hardship to the people, Shinde said.