Maoists are active in Assam and cannot be wished away. But it’s not time yet to let the “greyhounds” loose on them, says director-general of police J.N. Choudhury, in conversation with Sumir Karmakar of The Telegraph.

 

 

 

Excerpts from the interview

The Telegraph: How are Maoists placed in Assam?

J.N. Choudhury: They are there, recruiting and mobilising and trying to build a base.

TT: When it comes to recruitment, which are their target groups?

JNC: They are mainly targeting ex-tea tribes and certain communities in Upper Assam that have been traditionally anti-establishment along with out-of-work workers of sick tea gardens in Barak Valley.

TT: Conditions in other Maoist affected states are different from those in Assam. What are they exploiting here to strike roots?

JNC: Unemployment and the feeling of deprivation among certain sections of the people, particularly in Upper Assam, and various other grievances. Not only Maoists, these people will join any group to let off steam.

TT: Different armed groups exist in the state. Will they allow Maoists any space? What about the Ulfa, particularly in Upper Assam, which is said to be Maoist-affected?

JNC: Ulfa is not expected to give in easily; they will compete for space. At the same time, we have reasons to believe some sympathisers or linkmen of the Ulfa have either joined Maoist ranks or are extending help to them.

TT: Are the Maoists sourcing weapons from the Northeast? Are other armed groups helping them procure these?

JNC: They are trying. It is not very difficult to get weapons if one has the right contacts. They tried to contact Ulfa, NSCN and PLA for arms. It is also a commercial activity for the armed groups and they won’t mind supplying weapons if they see profits.

TT: How seriously is Assam police taking the Maoist threat? How well are you prepared?

JNC: We cannot wish them away but it’s not time yet to deploy special forces, like the Greyhounds in Andhra Pradesh. We are concentrating on nipping the problem in the bud. The government has sought assistance from the Centre to implement development schemes in the seven Maoist-affected districts.

TT: Insurgency has been on the wane in the past couple of years but other crimes have been on the rise. So is it time for the police to reorient themselves towards people?

JNC: Yes we have to. We are increasing our thana-level personnel who actually serve the public. In Guwahati, I have asked the senior superintendent of police to organise police-public interactions once a month.

TT: Extortion is still a problem, particularly in BTAD. Ev-en BTC chief Hagrama Mohilary is vocal on the issue. What is being done to check this?

JNC: Extortion is still a problem in BTAD. The Songbijit group of NDFB is extorting money from traders in Kokrajhar, Chirang, Bongaigaon and even in Kharupetia in Darrang district though the amounts are not big. We are not sure whether the money reaches the organisation or is pocketed by groups but our efforts to root out the problem are on.

TT: What is the status of Anup Chetia’s repatriation from Bangladesh?

JNC: It is between the governments of the two countries. We at the state level have nothing to do with it.