[Assam] On the other hand, the disinformation exercises and use of State TERROR weapons, which include RAPES; causing fear psychosis, are producing your desired results! What is the TRUTH, Guv?

[Bartta Bistar]

Militancy in State on wane: Governor

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/details.asp?id=oct2407/at09
By R Dutta Choudhury
 GUWAHATI, Oct 23 – Assam Governor Lt Gen (Retd) Ajai Singh has expressed
the view that militancy in the State is on the wane and the militants are
also getting isolated from the civil society. At the same time, he admitted
that the help that the militants are getting from foreign agencies is a
matter of serious concern.

Talking to *The Assam Tribune* at the Raj Bhawan here today, Lt Gen Singh,
who has seen militancy from close quarters both as the GOC of the 4 Corps of
the Army in the early 1990s and as the Governor of the State, said that the
situation in the state has changed over the years and the civil society has
now become strong against militancy. He pointed out that the killing of
women and children in a blast in Dhemaji on the Independence Day in 2004 was
one of the turning points, which turned the civil society against militants.

The Governor pointed out that in recent times, the security forces achieved
considerable success in the operations against the militants and if the same
level of operations can be maintained for some time, the militant groups
would be totally smashed. He said that the militants are on the run and all
the groups active in Assam are facing shortage of weapons. He pointed out
that the ULFA is now only planting explosives to create law and order
problem and to create fear psychosis among the people to extort money to
boost their own coffers.

However, Lt Gen Singh said that the help that the militants are receiving
from foreign agencies is a matter of serious concern. He said that the
militants are receiving financial help as well as arms and ammunition from
foreign agencies, which increased their fighting potential. He said that the
reports of fundamentalist forces trying to create disturbance in the State
is also a matter of serious concern. When pointed out that the police and
security forces failed to achieve major success against the fundamentalist
forces, he said, "success does not only mean arresting persons. It is a fact
that the fundamentalist forces have not been able to carry out any major act
of violence and this is a major success of the security forces."

Replying to a question on the difference of the face of militancy that he
has witnessed since his days as the GOC of the 4 Corps of the Army leading
the counter-insurgency operations and now, the Governor expressed the view
that the potency of militants depends on certain factors including
availability of breeding ground for militancy, contiguity to places already
affected by militancy, capability of the law enforcing agencies to deal with
militancy, etc. He said that a strong administration could also play a major
role in nipping militancy in the bud. He said that the level of militancy
could also be gauged by the fear factor created by the militants over the
civil society.

The Governor said that in 1990 the militants created fear in the minds of
the people and they could do whatever they wanted. But after two major
operations- Bajrang and Rhino, the militants were put on the back foot. The
militant groups are now disorganized and they are always trying to regroup.
The civil society has also become very strong against militancy and the
militants have lost their breeding ground and this is the opportune moment
to finish militancy, he added. He also said that new militant groups have
cropped up in recent times mainly to make easy money.

The Governor also has very strong personal views on the issue of talks with
the militant groups. On the issue of talks, he expressed the view that the
militants have taken up arms against the State, which is unlawful and they
should surrender arms and join the mainstream to hold talks.
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