New Delhi: Worried over reports that al Qaida may carry out subversive activities in Indian sub- continent, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has backed a proposal that the Centre sets up an institutional mechanism for eastern India to coordinate and monitor terror acts and share intelligence.
In a letter to Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Gogoi said Assam has specifically been mentioned along with other states where al Qaida may carry out terror acts and this poses a serious threat to the entire Northeast in general and Assam in particular.
“Government of Meghalaya has suggested that an institutional arrangement may be set up to enable regular and constant interactions between the central and state governments to counter this threat. Such arrangement may strengthen the internal security of the states.
“We are also in support of the suggestion and you may accordingly consider setting up of a committee involving the representatives of the state governments of the region, including West Bengal, which may coordinate and monitor the developments, enable information-sharing, make suggestions as well as take the follow-up actions to deal with the nefarious anti-India subversive activities of the organisations like al Qaida,” Gogoi said in his letter.
The Chief Minister said Assam is already confronting the challenges of myriad insurgent groups and militant outfits which make the state particularly vulnerable to such threats.
Compounded by the fact that many insurgent groups of the region have bases in neighbouring countries, international terrorist organisations like al Qaida may act in concert with them to extend their network in this area and indulge in subversive activities, he said.
Gogoi said Assam government has taken various steps to control such activities and security arrangements throughout the state have been strengthened and strict vigil maintained.
“However, it is necessary that the whole situation be closely monitored by the central intelligence agencies. The central government may also take up the matter with the neighbouring countries,” he said in the letter.
