Safe haven of militants in Myanmar biggest threat: Gogoi

PTI
GUWAHATI, JULY 17

ASSAM Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today said the “safe haven” of insurgent groups in Myanmar was the biggest threat to the state and the region.
“The safe haven in Myanmar is the number one threat for us, followed by the same in Bangladesh. In the recently held security meeting with the Union Home minister, I had said that the safe haven should be destroyed to provide security to the North-East,” Gogoi said at a press conference here.
“All major groups and their factions, including ULFA (I) NSCN(K), NDFB(S), KLO and KPLT, have their bases in forests of Myanmar,” he said.
“In the recent attack by ULFA(I) on the innocent people in Tinsukia, the diktat (rpt) diktat came from the camps of Myanmar. I request the Centre to strengthen the security along the border with Myanmar and operations should continue in full-swing,” Gogoi said.
Talking about ULFA(I) Chief Paresh Barua’s reported threats to people coming from different states, the chief minister said “nobody bows down to his threat nowadays. We have been receiving his threats all along. The state and central governments will not allow killings to happen.”
On Barua’s reported denial of involvement in the Tinsukia attack, the chief minister said “we have (rpt) have confirmed that ULFA(I) is behind the attack. It is the most cowardice,
inhuman and heinous act to kill innocent civilians. We are going in a big way to catch the culprits.”
Referring to the police lathicharge on protesters against the Tinsukia killings in which one agitator died, Gogoi said the people got agitated because of the heinous act of the militants and police had to use lathis to control the mob.
“We express our deep sorrow for the death. We’ll definitely provide compensation to the family,” Gogoi said.
But, the chief minister said, there was also lapses on the part of the Superintendent of Police of Tinsukia (rpt) Tinsukia.
Gogoi also said he had spoken to the Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and sought additional forces, which was promised to be delivered soon.

Rajnath speaks to Gogoi over killing of Hindi-speaking persons

PTI
NEW DELHI, JULY 17

HOME Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday spoke to Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi about the killing of a Hindi-speaking businessman and his daughter by suspected ULFA militants in Tinsukia.
During their telephonic conversation, Gogoi apprised him of the situation in Tinsukia region following the killing of the two Hindi-speaking persons.
“Gogoi told me that the state had already rushed security forces to Tinsukia to maintain law and order.I assured the Chief Minister of all possible help from the Centre, including additional security forces, if needed,” Singh said here.
On Tuesday night, Nandalal Shah (65) and his daughter Kajol Shah (21) were killed, while his wife, son and nephew were injured in indiscriminate firing by suspected ULFA(I) militants at his home in Bijuliban village in Tinsukia district.
After the killing of Nandalal Shah and his daughter Kajol, Assam government has shunted out local SP Arnab Deka and posted Karbi Anglong SP Mugdha Jyoti Mahanta in his place.
Protests over the incident have disrupted normal life in the district for the last two days.