Tripura CM seeks Centre's support to strengthen internal security

Agartala, Dec 21 (UNI) Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar has demanded the Centre's assistance for strengthening the intelligence network in insurgency-affected states in the Northeast, along with modernisation of the police force.

Speaking at the NE Chief Ministers' meeting on Internal Security, convened by the Union Home Affairs Ministry, here yesterday, Mr Sarkar stated that with the growing threat of militancy in the region, Tripura had adopted pro-active strategy to contain the menace and it had been successful, which was also appreciated by the Centre.

He demanded adequate support from the Centre to upgrade the police training colleges in the region, including two in Tripura, and asked for enhancement of police modernisation initiatives.

Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil had convened the meeting on the directions of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh following a spate of bomb blasts in several parts of the country, rising insurgency-related activities and the ensuing Assembly elections in three NE states - Tripura, Meghalaya and Nagaland.

Conceding that the problems of the NE states were unique, Mr Sarkar observed that the region was suffering from poor infrastructure and communication facilities and it needed urgent attention so that the states too could benefit from the economic boom.

''The NE states have vulnerabilities on the internal security front, which need to be addressed with separate strategies, as each state has its specific nuances and characteristics and the problems cannot be generalised,'' he opined.

Earlier, Mr Patil gave an overview of the internal security situation in the country, highlighting the threats faced by the states, ranging from militancy in the NE and Jammu and Kashmir, to the naxal violence.

UNI