Task force to deal with Maoist growth in Assam

GUWAHATI: With Left wing extremism (LWE) spreading fast in several areas of Northeast India and government of India expressing concern, Assam government have constituted a task force to deal firmly with Red ultras.

On Sunday National Investigation arrested a director of a school at Merapani in Upper Assam's Golaghat district for his alleged links with Maoists.

Pallab Barbora is allegedly associated with Maoist and was assisting the Maoist in expansion of the network. Sources in NIA said that Borbora a former human right activist has links with Manipur based militant outfit, Peoples' Liberation Army (PLA) and CPI (Maoist).

Sources added, "Barbora was arrested following revelations made by a arrested Maoist leader. Barbora's interrogation will bring to light several details about the Maoist operations in Upper Assam and Northeast India."

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 LWE 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 LWE in the State.

The Task Force will prepare a comprehensive action Plan by outlining the preventive and constructive strategies to take on the rising phenomenon of Maoist activities in the state within one month from the date of issue of the notification. The notification was issued on June 1.