Author: Sanjoy Ray
Publication: The Assam Tribune
Date: January 5, 2008
URL: http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/details.asp?id=jan0508/at09
Asserting that a host of militant outfits
active in the North East region, including the proscribed United Liberation
Front of Asom (ULFA) have taken refuge in the neighbouring countries like
Myanmar and Bangladesh, Director General of Assam Rifles Paramjit Singh today
said that Assam Rifles has urged the respective Governments of the neighbouring
countries to deal with the matter effectively before the scenario aggravates.
"There is no denying the fact some of the active extremist groups have
developed bases in the neighbouring countries and the Assam Rifles, which
has also been entrusted with counter-insurgency operations in the region would
leave no stone unturned in this regard," Singh stated while talking to
the media persons in a press conference here today.
"Efforts are on and if required we would
not hesistate to carryout a crackdown on these hideouts," he said.
On the imposition of the President's Rule
in Nagaland, Singh said, " The role of Assam Rifles would always remain
the same be it during the President' Rule or under any popular Government."
"We are here to help the administartion
by maintaining internal security and also carryout in counter insurgency operations,"
he pointed out.
Conceding that the insurgency probem in the
North East, especially that of the proscribed ULFA cannot be solved by the
military alone, Singh further stated the Assam Rifles is committed to win
the hearts of the people in the North East, which would go a long way in solving
the prolonged insurgency problem.
"Be it ULFA, NSCN(IM) or any other militant
outfit operating in the region, there are several social root causes behind
their emergence as an extremist group. There is a percieved sense of 'alienation'
in them and therefore we must ensure that their basic problem is addressed
by the Government. They are our own people and we must always remember this,"
Singh said while speaking at a press conference here today.
"If insurgency in Jammu & Kashmir,
Punjab and Mizoram can come down, I see no reason why the same cannot happen
in other States of the North East, especially Assam and Manipur," he
said.
Singh also stated that once the economic condition
of the region improves, the scenario is bound to change.
Earlier, during the attestation parade held
at the Assam Rifles Training Centre and School(ARTCS) ground, as many as 234
pass outs of the ARTCS have been inducted as soldiers of the Assam Rifles.
The alumnis of ARTCS after having undergone
46 weeks of rigorous training in the ARTCS today vowed to work for the interest
of the country.
Addressing the newly-inducted cadres duirng
the ceremony, Singh urged them to live up to the expectation of the people
of the North East and the country as a whole.
"The Assam Rifles has produced many brave
soldiers and hope you will also keep the momentum going for the interest of
the country. The fact that the North East is going through trying times would
make your job even more challenging," Singh said, while addressing the
soldiers duirng the function.
Of the 234 new jawans, five were conferred
with best cadets award here during the concluding golden jubilee cerlebration
ceremony of the ARTCS.