Shillong, Dec 19: The central government would soon hold a meeting with all chief ministers of the eight northeastern states to discuss the security threat by jihadi groups, union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijju said here Friday.
“The issue (security threat) is serious and a meeting with chief ministers of the states from the (northeast) region will be convened soon to discuss and take strategic decisions,” Rijiju said.
He was speaking to journalists after inspecting the India-Bangladesh border in the Dawki sector in Meghalaya.
“In that meeting, strategic decision will be taken on the law and order front as well as security aspect of the whole region,” he said while refusing to divulge details about the spread of terror modules in the region.
He said the chairman of the joint intelligence committee has also briefed him about the steps taken to tackle terror activities in the region.
In recent months, the National Investigating Agency (NIA) has arrested a number of Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) operatives, including Sahanur Alam wanted in the Oct 2 Burdwan blast case.
Alam, who is number three in the hierarchy of the Assam module of the JMB, had even spent sometime in the plains belt of Garo hills of Meghalaya before his arrest.
Rijiju said the central government has constituted a standing committee of the inter-state council headed by Home Minister Rajnath Singh.
“Inter-state council is a recommendatory body to investigate and discuss subjects of common interest between the centre and states or among the states for better coordination of policy and action,” he said.
On the India-China border issue, Rijiju said most of the border areas with China are inaccessible.
“Since the MacMohan Line has not been delineated, the troops in the past used to cross the border areas especially from the Chinese side. The Indian forces did not cross but went to their own territory as they have to monitor the inaccessible border areas which are around 30 km away from the camps,” he said.
Meanwhile, the minister appealed to all members of various rebel groups to join the mainstream, saying their illegal activities were not affecting anyone except their own community.
“Their (rebels) activities are not affecting New Delhi or any other place but they are doing disservice to their people and the state,” he said.
Besides, he said the central government was putting extra focus on the development of every sector of the northeast region.
“We will ensure that in five years, we transform the economy and social cultural aspect of northeast in a positive manner,” he said. (IANS)
