Security scenario in North East region is "fragile": IB Chief

Guwahati, Nov 29: The security scenario in the North East region is "fragile" and insurgent outfits' safely ensconced in neighbouring countries are compounding the problem,Intelligence Bureau Director Syed Asif Ibrahim said here on Saturday.

"The situation in the N-E region continues to be fragile due to the violent activities of (militant) groups outside talks (with government)", Ibrahim said addressing the 49th annual conference of DGPs, IGPs of all States, Union Territories and Central Police Organisations heads here for the first time outside Delhi.

"Safe sanctuaries for insurgent groups in the neighbouring countries, particularly in Myanmar, has compounded the security situation in the region", he pointed out. Analysing the security situation, the IB Director said the NDFB in Assam has emerged as the outfit responsible for 85 per cent of the casualties.

In Meghalaya the GNLA-ULFA combine is responsible for 75 per cent of casualties and 40 per cent of incidents, while the Meitei underground groups are responsible for 55 per cent of casualties, he said. In Nagaland it was internecine clashes among various outfits for area domination and extortion, while in Arunachal Pradesh there is turf war between two Naga groups in three districts of Changlang, Tirap and Longding, Ibrahim said.

IB Chief: Fresh strategies have to be drawn up

On the Maoist threat, the IB chief said, "there has been decline in their recruitment. Against 39 central members only 20 are left. They are also facing desertion". "They have crisis of leadership and are facing shortage of arms. Their shrinkage of area of operation has led to decline in their killings", Ibrahim said.

"Despite that, fresh strategies have to be drawn up. Key roles have to be assigned to the police down to the district level by providing them support and arms", he said.

The two-day annual conference from today is a platform for formulating design, fine tuning the security challenges and coordination of strategies for security, the IB Director said.

With abiding commitment to the North East region, he said the security related issues to be highlighted in the Conference are radicalisation, left wing extremism, further improving the accessibility of the justice system by the common people, besides improvement of the security situation in the area accorded highest importance.

PTI