Agartala: A mechanism is being put in place
to ensure cooperation among security forces in the
Northeastern states to effectively tackle the menace of
insurgency.
A Regional Cooperation Mechanism (RCM) would be set up in
Shillong, among the security forces of the seven Northeastern
states and Sikkim to exchange information about movement and
plans of the outfits, Tripura DGP Pranay Sahaya said today.
A decision to this effect was taken in a two-day meeting
of the DGPs of the region from October 30.
RCM would help in better coordination among the security
forces of the region as various insurgent outfits of N-E were
maintaining cooperation among them for conducting insurgent
activities, the DGP said.
All the district SPs, state and central paramilitary
forces and intelligence agencies of the region would now work
in active cooperation and exchange information about movement
and plans of the outfits, he said.
Participants of the meeting also requested the Ministry
of Home Affairs to set up an arms depot in the region so that
forces could procure arms and ammunition quickly.
Insurgent outfits like All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF),
United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), Kamtapur Liberation
Organisation (KLO), and Manipur People`s Liberation Front
(MPLF) have tied up for cooperation among themselves and
launch joint operations, Sahaya said.
The meeting, also discussed formulating of a strategy
on border management, and was attended by senior officers of
Intelligence Bureau, Research and Analysis Wing, Assam Rifles,
Army and Indo-Tibetan Border Police.
Though insurgency has declined in some states of the
region, some criminal groups were still extorting money from
contractors undertaking big projects, Sahaya said, adding
special posts for dealing with these kinds of activities would
also be formed.
The meeting also discussed about checking infiltration
along the borders of Bangladesh and Myanmar and stressed the
need for strengthening border outposts and mobile task force.
However, he said, the rate of infiltration from
Bangladesh was decreasing in Tripura.
"Altogether 2000 Bangladeshi infiltrators were pushed
back from Tripura in 2007. The number declined to 1000 last
year and this year, it is slightly more than 600," he added.
Tripura alone shares 856 KM porous border with
Bangladesh, while the entire region shares about 1000 km
border with the neighbouring country.
Bureau Report
