Maoists infiltrates into Assam, Ulfa helps Maoists: Gogoi

Source: HT

Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi on Friday in Guwati said Maoists had infiltrated into Assam and the banned Ulfa had helped them in setting up bases but Maoists failed to make major headway in the state due to implementation of effective counter strategy from the government. "Maoistsinfiltrated into the state. Ulfa helps Maoists to grow in the state. We are monitoring the situation closely. Some youths from the state took trainings in Maoists’ camps outside the state," said Gogoi. 

The chief minister said that Maoists had two over ground organizations in the state namely Assam Students Youths Organization (ASYO) and Assam Chah Janajati Suraksha Samiti (ACJSS). The president of ASYO, Aditya Bora and general secretary of ACJSS, Tingrai Orang were arrested by security forces from the dense jungles of Orissa during an encounter with Maoists.  

The Maoists elements were active in some pockets in the state and most prone areas identified for growth of Maoists activities were state’s tea garden areas where majority of population are Adivasis. The Adivasi population is the most deprived class in Assam.

"Our twin strategy to tackle insurgency and Maoists works in right direction. The Maoists could not make headway due to (our) efforts", said Gogoi. To rot out insurgency, Assam government adopted more development works in backward areas and constant security offensive against militants.

The chief minister highlighted that the state has 33% less unemployment rate than the all India average. As per the reports (2009-2010) of Ministry of Labour and Employment Labour bureau, all India unemployment rate is 9.5% whereas for Assam it is 6.4%. In literacy ( age 7 years and above), only 11.2% population is illiterate but the national average of illiteracy is 22.3%.

The most worrying factor for the government on the Ulfa– Maoists connection is that the separatist outfit which has huge stocks of arms might transfer it to Maoists outfits through different routes.

On Friday evening, an Adivasi militant outfit, AANLA ( All Adivasi National Liberation Army) announced unilateral ceasefire. With AANLA, all the five Adivasi militant outfits had announced ceasefire.

Gogoi added that peace talks with Karbi tribal militant outfits, KNLF ( Karbi National Liberation Front) and UPDS (United People Democratic Solidarity) were satisfactory and the government was heading for an accord with the Karbi militant outfits. The government initiated peace talk with other tribal militant outfits of Dima Halam Daogah (two factions) and Ndfb (National Democratic Front of Boroland) and according to chief minister, the talks were satisfactory.

"We have made it clear to all the militant outfits that there will not be division of the state. We asked them to drop the demand of separate state", added Gogoi.