Islamic militancy, Maoists active in Assam: Gogoi

Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Friday said Islamic militants and Maoists are active in the state but his government was keeping a strict vigil on their activities.

"Islamic outfits, Maoists and all other insurgent organisations are trying to create trouble in the state but we are vigilant," Gogoi told PTI.

He claimed containing insurgency was the "single-most achievement of my three terms in office but there are several forces trying to destabilise the state and its development".

"My government has been very pro-active on this front and we shall continue to be vigilant," he added.

Gogoi claimed that militant groups like NDFB(S) and ULFA(I) have been considerably weakened with most of its top leaders either eliminated or captured.

"The outfits, earlier active in the state, have been thoroughly marginalised and now they are trying to merge together and organise themselves," he said.

ULFA(I)'s leader Paresh Barua has already formed United Liberated Front of South West Asia to bring together the marginalised groups, he said.

According to Gogoi, when he came to power, insurgency was at its height and was the "number one problem confronting the state".

As a result, development was "totally stalled but my government was successful in bringing about a change in the scenario by tackling the problem of insurgency effectively".

"I have succeeded in bringing development and people have now almost forgotten about insurgency," he added.

The government's thrust on road communication, education, health, e-governance and particularly on agriculture, horticulture and sericulture has transformed the rural economy with youth no longer willing to join insurgent groups, he claimed.