Silchar (Assam): Maoists were attempting to extend their hold in the three districts of Assam`s Barak Valley but a strict vigil would be maintained to prevent their entry, IGP (Law and Order) SN Singh has said.
"The Maoists are trying to extend hold not only in the tea garden areas of Barak Valley but also in other areas, particularly among a particular section of people," he said.
The police were very much aware of the activities of Maoists in the three Barak Valley districts -- Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi, Singh told reporters at Hailakandi last night.
The location in Barak Valley, particularly its sharing of international border with Bangladesh, and inter-state borders with Mizoram, Manipur and Tripura was also a matter of concern and a strict vigil would be maintained to prevent the entry of the Maoists, he said.
According to inputs available with the police, there were 200 Maoists in Assam with less than 16 in the Barak Valley.
Referring to the past experience of Bengalis leading the Naxal movement, the IGP said there could be some support for the Maoists among a section of Hindu Bengalis in the Valley and he appealed to them not to support the Maoists.
PTI
