India hopeful of Dhaka acting against insurgents

Shillong, Apr 7 (UNI) India is hopeful that the caretaker government in Bangladesh would act against North-East insurgents' camps existing in that country, Minister of State for Defence M M Pallam Raju has said.

Mr Raju's statement assumed significance in the wake of Bangladesh Foreign Advisor Iftekar Ahmed Chowdhury assuring New Delhi that it would not allow its territory to be used for any activity against India.

Talking to reporters here yesterday, the Union Minister who was here on a week-long tour to the North Eastern states said the Centre was also optimistic about the outcome of bilateral talks on defence issues with the interim government.

When asked, Mr Raju said the ULFA would one day realise the futility of their demands and negotiate with the government. ''We have given them ample time for talks, but they responded with an aggressive note,'' he said.

Mr Raju, however, reiterated the Centre's decision to continue to combat ULFA activities. ''We will leave no stone unturned against the ULFA and ensure that the militancy problem is sorted out,'' he asserted.

UNI