Security Forces Still Need AFSPA to Tackle Banned Groups, Says Assam DGP

Guwahati, Apr 25 (PTI) Assam DGP Mukesh Sahay today said the banned militant group of ULFA(I) still had the strength to carry out terror attacks in some pockets of the state, and that the security forces still needed the controversial AFSPA for operations.

"Union home ministry has said that militancy in Assam has gone down significantly, say about 70 per cent. But some pockets are still there, where some groups are active," he said at a press conference here.

ULFA(I) is active in some areas of upper Assam i.e. along the inter-state border with Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland, he said.

"Due to its proximity with the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) and easy access to the Myanmar border, ULFA(I) is still in a position to create problems in some pockets. We are coordinating with Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland in our counter-insurgency operations," Sahay said.

Regarding the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), the top cop said Assam still required it during its operation against banned groups.

"At this time, we need AFSPA. About withdrawal of the Act from Assam, the government will take the right decision in the right time," he added.

On the recent withdrawal of the AFSPA from neighbouring Meghalaya despite an active presence of a number of insurgent groups in that state, Sahay did not give a direct answer.

"These are strategic decisions. Facts may say that militancy has come down, but interpretation may vary," he said without elaborating.

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