NE security agencies on toes on R–Day eve

Agartala/Aizawl/Imphal, January 25: The union home ministry has alerted the northeastern states over possible terror attacks in the run–up to the Republic Day Monday, an official said on Sunday. “The home ministry has alerted the northeastern states to maintain strict vigil in the run–up to the Republic Day and foil any attempt by separatist outfits to create a vicious situation,” Inspector General of Tripura Police (Police Control) Nepal Das told IANS.

“The central and state governments have also asked the BSF (Border Security Force) to further strengthen vigilance along the India–Bangladesh border to prevent trans–border movement of militants,” he said.

The BSF, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Tripura State Rifles and other central paramilitary personnel accompanied by bomb disposal and dog squads continued search operations at airports, hotels, bus and railways termils, markets, congested locations and tiol highways. Four northeastern states – Tripura, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Assam – share an 1,880–km border with Bangladesh, while India and Bhutan share a 643–km unfenced border. Four states of the region – Mizoram, Manipur, galand and Aruchal Pradesh – also share a 1,640–km unfenced border with Myanmar.

Aruchal Pradesh shares a 1,080–km unfenced border with Chi. Several separatist outfits, including the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), have called for a 24–hour general strike from January 25 midnight and for boycotting the Republic Day celebrations. They have mailed statements to media organisations in this regard.

“We are yet to get any confirmation that the militant outfits have called a strike and boycott of the Republic Day celebrations,” Das added. The Northeast Frontier Railway has also taken up security measures regarding the running of trains in Assam and Tripura. An official of the Airports Authority of India said that entry of people, except passengers, into airport areas across the northeast has been barred and the restrictions would continue till January 27. In Manipur, a senior police official said round–the–clock patrolling is being carried out in different places of the state, especially in four valley districts of Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal, and Bishenpur. (ians)