The Hindu Business Line : Flare up in North-East

THE sudden flare up in Assam occurring simultaneously in several districts, close on the heels of disturbances in Manipur, has ominous overtones. The Government should take every conceivable possibility into account in devising a counter-strategy.

For instance, it may well be that the serial blasts, which have been deliberately intended to strike terror, have been caused by the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), the United Liberation Front of Ahom (ULFA) and the more extremist sections of Naga insurgents acting in concert.

Added to that is the spectre of Osama bin Laden's International Islamic Front, primarily directed at the US and Israel, but thought to be having India also within its sight. Thanks to the coming presidential election, the US has stepped up its efforts to track Osama down as a way of increasing the chances of victory of Mr George W. Bush.

There are reports that the US is even planning to send its forces into the North Western Frontier Province of Pakistan. The mood of desperation in the US Administration is also because Senator John Kerry, the Democratic rival, has been charging Mr Bush with downplaying Osama and going after Saddam to no purpose.

One consequence of the US turning the heat on Al Qaeda desperadoes is that most of them are seeking safe havens where the governments would be either ineffective or conniving.

Of late, Bangladesh has turned out to be a fertile breeding ground of militants of all kinds intensifying their attacks on India.

Myanmar too is turning a blind eye, if not willingly providing sanctuaries, to extremists causing havoc in the North East.

The problem is complex, and pinning the blame on the Home Minister alone is not fair. The Government should immediately set up a Special Task Force headed by the Prime Minister and comprising the Ministers of Home Affairs, External Affairs, Defence, Finance and Planning to monitor the situation from day to day, and hold a few sittings in Guwahati and Imphal, to impart the necessary drive to remedial measures including starting a dialogue with the insurgents, putting pressure on Bangladesh and Myanmar, directly and via the US or the UN, to close the militants' camps, and speeding up developmental and ameliorative activities.

The North East has been on the boil for more than 40 years largely due to the alienation brought about by Delhi's own insensitivity.

B. S. Raghavan

More Stories on : Terrorism | Politics | Offhand

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
A choice for the TV viewer

National Manufacturing Competitiveness Council — Taking on an uphill task

Maharashtra Assembly polls — Advantage, Congress-NCP

Flare up in North-East

M&A success in banking — Enhancing value with BrandDueDiligence

`Regulated tariffs more important than pipeline competition' -- Mr Proshanto Banerjee, Chairman, GAIL (India)

Regulator problem

Consultative panels