206 lives lost in North Cachar violence since 05

State Forests and Environment Minister Rockybul Hussain,replying to a question by Girindra Kumar Baruah AGP,said that in all,47 security personnel and 43 militants were killed in the North Cachar Hills district in the past four years. Three militants managed to escape from prison in recent times,Hussain said,replying on behalf of Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi who also holds the home portfolio.

He informed the House that as many as 376 militants were apprehended by the security forces in the district since 2005. Altogether 53 companies of the Assam Police and Central Paramilitary Forces CPMF have been deployed in the troubled hill district in addition to the 22 columns of the Armed Forces. The IGP of Special Task Force has been stationed in the district headquarters to oversee the operations,the minister informed the House.

The state Government,meanwhile,has upgraded four police outposts to police stations while eight new outposts are being established in the wake of the recent violence in the district. The Government had on Monday informed the state Assembly that the Black Widow or DHDJ had a strength of 230 cadres.