North East: Gateway to illegal arms and explosives in the country

Guwahati, July 18 (UNI) As the country is groping for an answer to 7/11, the North East has once again emerged as a red spot on the radar of the security agencies.

''The terror network in the Eastern sector is much more alarming than the Western sector. At least in the Western sector, there is a security apparatus to confront. In eastern India, there is none and it is politically incorrect to do so,'' Lt Gen D B Shekatkar, who commanded the IV Corps of the Indian Army responsible for counter-insurgency operations in Asom told newspersons on phone from his home in Pune yesterday.

Alarmed over intelligence reports of possible strike by the jehadi groups in Asom, the security apparatus has already swung their crack team to find out whether the explosives that are regularly being used all over India, are going through the North East.

''We are trying our best while increasing patrolling in all the vantage points,'' said Asom DGP Deepak Naryan Dutta to newsmen. But the security agencies are more worried over the fact that the North East has become a major trade route for illegal arms and explosives.

''The general route of explosives is from Bangladesh-North East-Nepal-Uttar Pradesh to the exact destination. There is a safe corridor with a particular section of the society involved in the whole operation,'' said a senior officer of the Military Intelligence(MI).

Meanwhile the Railway Authorities have increased the presence of security personnel in the Guwahati Railway Station.

''Most of the explosives are either loaded or unloaded in Dimapur,'' said a senior Railway sources at NF Railway Headquarter in Maligaon.

''So far no bombs by the ISI-backed militant groups have exploded in the North East. It itself is an indicator. They are trying to keep their sanctuary as safe as possible. With the gun pointing towards ULFA and NSCN, these operators are having a field day using the porous boundary of Bangladesh to their advantage,'' said a senior Army officer posted at Rangiya.

''Most of the explosives and arms are unloaded in and around Siliguri and through Kakarvita region it finds its way into Nepal, and through the Maoist controlled territory it reaches the western boundary of Nepal with India where there is hardly any security, to re-enter through smaller towns of Western Uttar Pradesh,'' the MI source said.

In fact General D B Shekhatkar said the problem in the Eastern sector is far more serious than the Western sector. ''It has been going on right under the noses of everyone and no one seems to be bothered about the cross-border terrorism in Asom except for making some occasional noises,'' he added.

UNI MT PA DS1650