Shillong, Oct 31 (IANS) Civilian and militray intelligence agencies have suggested a joint mechanism and effective border management to tackle terrorism in the northeast, officials said.
The police and intelligence chiefs of the northeastern states and West Bengal along with senior officials of the Intelligence Bureau (IB), Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), Assam Rifles, Army and Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) held a two-day meeting here, ending Saturday.

“The militants’ link with society and so called public support to the terrorists should be cut off to ensure lasting solution to the insurgency scenario in the northeast,” additional director of Intelligence Bureau R.N. Ravi said while addressing the conference.

Stating that military solution has so far yielded no fruitful results to solve the three-decade-old insurgency problem in the region, the IB official underlined the need to devise a firm strategy to stop the people’s support to the insurgent outfits.

“The results of Operation All Clear against some militant outfits in the region including that of United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) have turned out to be counter-productive as these groups have remained in action after the military offensive,” Ravi observed.

The security officials have expressed concern over the northeast militant outfits’ continued support and shelter they are getting in neighbouring countries, including Bangladesh.

An official said: “Underlining the urgent need for effective border management, the security, army and intelligence official told the meeting that the illegal influx of migrants from across the border has aggravated the insurgency problem and jihadi terrorism besides damaging the topography of northeast India.”

Five Indian states — West Bengal, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Assam and Tripura — share a 4,095-km border with Bangladesh. Besides, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram and Assam share 3,488 km, 1,643 km and 699 km international borders with China, Myanmar and Bhutan respectively.

“Half of the battle will be won against terrorist groups in the region if the security forces are able to win the hearts of the local people,” said Meghalaya deputy chief minister Bindo M. Lanong, who inaugurated the conference.