NE states moot regional security force

The two-day meeting of the Commission on Centre-State relations held here discussed the need for raising a 8216;Northeast security force8217; to minimise the region8217;s dependence on the Central Government. The internal security meeting attended by the chief secretaries and senior police officers of the Northeastern states expressed their preference for raising the aforesaid force by recruiting people from the region.

Meghalaya Chief Secretary Ranjan Chatterjee said that since the North East Council was not a constitutional body,, the approval for such a force must come from the Union and the North Eastern states must seperately suggest to the Centre the need for a common security force.

Former Union Home Secretary and member of the Commission on Centre-State Relations V K Duggal highlighted the perception among the members that internal security and economic prosperity were interlinked. He said: 8220;The members felt that if the North eastern states are economically developed the militancy problem will drop significantly.8221; Meanwhile, some states expressed their concern over the frequent road blockades affecting the economic progress of the states and Chatterjee put forth the view of some states to set up a 8216;Central Road Security Force8217; along the lines of the Central Industrial Security Force to deal with the frequent road blockades and bandhs.