R Dutta Choudhury

GUWAHATI, April 4 – The Government of India has decided to launch a full-scale operation against both the factions of the NSCN in Tirap and Changlang districts of Arunachal Pradesh. This decision was taken during the recent visit of the Union Home Minister, P Chidambaram to Arunachal Pradesh.

Highly placed official sources told The Assam Tribune that the main purpose of the visit of Chidambaram was to assess the situation on the ground following reports of disturbance in Tirap and Changlang districts. Sources said during the visit, the Union Home Minister reviewed the situation in a high level meeting, which was attended among others by senior officers of the Army, Assam Rifles, and other paramilitary forces. After a thorough review of the situation, the Union Home Minister directed the Army and paramilitary forces to launch full scale operations in the two trouble torn districts of the otherwise peaceful State.

Sources revealed that Chidambaram asked the forces to adopt a “zero tolerance policy” during the operations and made it very clear that the cease-fire agreements with both factions of the NSCN are applicable only in the geographical boundary of Nagaland and strong action should be taken against any member of the outfits found to be indulging in unlawful activity elsewhere.

Sources revealed that the Centre would also extend cooperation to Arunachal Pradesh Government to strengthen its own police force. Chidambaram even visited some of the police stations in Tirap district to see the functioning of the police forces on the ground and found that there is urgent need for strengthening the police force of the State to deal with the situation. Sources said that the major shortcomings found by the Union Home Minister during the visit to the police stations included shortage of manpower, shortage of vehicles, lack of adequate communication equipment etc and the Centre would extend help to Arunachal Pradesh to overcome the shortcomings.

Official sources said that though Arunachal Pradesh is a relatively peaceful State, activities of both factions of the NSCN became a matter of serious concern. The members of the NSCN factions are indulging in large-scale extortions, kidnappings, etc in the two districts, while, there have been reports that the NSCN members also forced local youths to work for them. In the run up to the elections to the State Assembly last year, the NSCN even kidnapped candidates and political party workers and the events forced the Centre to adopt a tough stand to deal with the situation.

Sources said that though the members United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and anti-talk faction of the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) also visit Tirap and Changlang districts from time to time, their activities have not caused much concern as yet. “The ULFA and NDFB use the area for tactical retreat whenever pressure is mounted on them in Assam and though there were some reports of the members of the groups indulging in extortions, they have not created much trouble in the area so far. Moreover, the NSCN (I-M), which is demanding inclusion of the districts in the greater Nagalim, has a stake in the area, which the ULFA and NDFB do not have,” sources added.

Meanwhile, sources said that not much should be read into Chidambaram’s visit to Tawang as he visited the place only at the request of the Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister.