People ‘actively’ resisting militants, says Assam Police chief

These apart, the common people have also themselves nabbed as many as 41 militants and handed them over to the security forces during the past two years."This had never happened earlier," he stated, adding that it is the common people who are more active in organising meetings to mobilise public opinion against terrorism by holding peace rallies in different districts.

Deka, who took over as the Assam Police chief following the ULFA launching a series of attacks on Hindi-speaking settlers in October last year, also claimed that the common people have received a reassurance du to the ‘firm commitment’ shown by the government towards tackling extremism.

The police chief also claimed that the surrender of several hardcore militants including some top-ranking leaders in the recent past had also led to further disillusionment of hundreds of such extremist cadres, who were expected to join the mainstream at the earliest opportunity.

He dished out statistics showing that altogether 2913 militant cadres belonging to different groups had surrendered between 1998 and 2000, of which the major share (2385) belonged to the ULFA. This apart, altogether 823 militants belonging to different groups were killed during counter-insurgency operations between January 1997 and December 2000.

"The figure of militants killed in 2000 has reached an all-time high," the Assam Police chief added. Of the 285 militants killed in 2000, as many as 184 belonged to the ULFA, while 96 belonged to the NDFB.

And while a large number surrendered and others got killed, 5827 have been arrested, Deka said, adding that of them again, 219 have been booked under the National Security Act during the past three years.