The task force recently constituted by the State Government to deal with the Maoists in Assam is working round-the-clock and observing the situation very closely

— JN Choudhury, DGP

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, July 9: Left-wing extremism is increasing in different areas of Assam and about 200 Maoist cadres are working jointly with the ULFA linkmen and other local rebel groups to spread their tentacles in the State. This was stated by the State DGP JN Chowdhury while talking to The Sentinel on Monday.

The DGP said the Maoist cadres were taking the help of the ULFA linkmen to get access to various areas of the State which were basically ULFA strongholds. “It’s a strategy of the Maoist groups in Assam. They are taking the help of the local militant groups to know the region in a better way,” said Chowdhury, adding, “Aditya Bora, a Maoist leader, is presently leading the Maoist operation in upper Assam.”

He said the Maoists were targeting the people in the rural areas and brainwashing them. “The Maoist groups everywhere in the country target the villagers and incite them to go against the government. These groups take the advantage of the backwardness of the area and the poor condition of the people living in such area,” added the DGP.

The DGP further said that Maoists are running a cell in Guwahati for facilitating transit of their top leaders from other parts of the country to Assam or vice-versa. “Chandan Barman, a Maoist who was arrested recently in Guwahati, admitted that he helps in the transit of Maoist leaders in the State,” he said.

The task force recently constituted by the State Government to deal with the Maoists in Assam is working round-the-clock and observing the situation very closely, said Chowdhury.

The newly formed Task Force which is being manned by senior police officials will study the extent of Maoist-related activities in various parts of the State and will suggest effective measures to check proliferation of Maoist activities in Assam.

It will also study the links of Maoist groups with other insurgent groups in the country. The task force will further undertake exposure visits to Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh to understand the best practices for combating the Maoists in the State.

“There is an urgent need to make the people aware of the Maoist presence and their activities in Assam,” he said, adding, “Ex NSCN (I-M)cadres and other Manipuri rebel groups are also imparting training to a section of Maoist cadres in Assam.”

On the issue of Godapani Pathak murder case, the DGP said the Kamatapur Liberation Organisation (KLO) was involved in the kidnapping and murder of Godapani Pathak. “The KLO abducted him for ransom. The outfit needs money to give its cadres training in Myanmar.”