Date:05/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/05/stories/2008120556201400.htm

National

Gogoi: base an NSG hub in Guwahati

Special Correspondent

Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Thursday urged the Centre to base here one of the proposed hubs of the National Security Guard (NSG), which will cater for the entire northeast.

Mr. Gogoi said Assam was vulnerable to terror attacks because of its location and the presence of several terrorist outfits with bases in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Myanmar. The United Liberation Front of Asom, the National Democratic Front of Boroland and the Dima Halam Daogah had become pawns in the hands of the Inter-Services Intelligence of Pakistan, the Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami of Bangladesh and other forces inimical to India. The State government decided to constitute a high-level committee consisting of the former Directors-General of Police, Madan Mohan Choudhury, P.V. Sumant and Harekrishna Deka, and a few others from the Intelligence Bureau to suggest steps to make the security forces more effective. The police strength would be increased and equipped with the latest weaponry and technology. The State would also raise its own anti-terror squad on the lines of the NSG.

The Chief Minister said the government had given the new DGP, G.M. Srivastav, and the Army a free hand to act against terrorist groups and those who indulged in violence. The only condition was there should no secret killing and no killing of innocent civilians.

Reacting to the allegations by the Opposition Asom Gana Parishad and the Bharatiya Janata Party that his government was soft towards HuJI and jehadi forces, Mr Gogoi said: “We will deal with these forces very firmly as they are the enemies of the country. At the same time, we will also deal very firmly with insurgent groups within the State.”