Security situation in northeast has improved, says Shinde

, March 8: Home Minister

on Friday said the

situation in northeastern states has improved while Rs 1,659 crore had been provided to them for modernisation of police forces during the last 12 years, an official statement said Friday.

Shinde, who addressed the members of the Consultative Committee attached to his ministry Thursday, said Mizoram has continued to remain peaceful, Tripura has shown "remarkable improvement" while Arunachal Pradesh had largely remained peaceful except its Tirap and Changlang districts due to presence of National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) factions.

Referring to Manipur, he said the security situation there has also improved with a noticeable decline in casualties among civilians and security forces.

Citing the ethnic violence which took place in Assam during July-August and again in November last year, Shinde said the situation in the area was under control and the government was watching it closely.

He told the members of consultative committee that he had also met a delegation of United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and Home Secretary R K Singh had reviewed the situation in detail.

"Members stated that the developmental schemes of the government can be increased in the northeast to generate more employment opportunities for the youth. They also deliberated on law and order situation, security, border management and employment generation in different states of the region," the release said.

IANS