MHA: Extremist outfits likely to attack Assam
Fearing a massive retaliation in wake of the fresh spate of violence in Assam, the Union home ministry has in a detailed report sent to the state government directed them to be on the lookout for operatives of outfits like the Muslim United Liberation Tigers of Assam (MULTA) that may hit back taking advantage of the deteriorating law and order situation.
The home ministry’s assessment is based on a Situation Report (SITREP) submitted to it by central intelligence agencies.
Incidentally, the home ministry has also expressed apprehension that MULTA could well be behind the ethnic rioting that gripped the state a few months ago. Most MULTA leaders operate out of Bangladesh and are believed to be backed by Pakistan’s ISI.
The home ministry has also sensitised the state police, central para-military forces like CRPF that have been deployed in Assam as well as border guarding forces like BSF to remain alert on smuggling of weapons from across the border into Assam. In fact, following directions from the home ministry the state police has already launched a massive drive to seize illegal weapons in the state.
The intelligence agencies have expressed fear that weapons, both sophisticated and country-made, are likely to be smuggled into Assam in large quantity from Bangladesh by ISI backed outfits to foment trouble again.
Highly-placed government sources said if home ministry’s assessment is any indication to go by then the earlier largescale ethnic rioting witnessed in Assam may also be the handiwork of ISI.
“Outfits like MULTA have been on the radar of out agencies for quite sometime now. There is little doubt that they with active support from ISI have been encouraging ethnic communal clashes in Assam. Then the ISI takes further advantage of the situation with use of technology and sending communally sensitive SMSes and MMSes. It is part of ISI’s larger game plan to destabilise India,” a senior security official said.
The security forces however, seem to be better prepared to handle the Assam situation having learnt from previous mistakes. For one adequate security forces, including the Army, can now be deployed at short notice. The home ministry too is closely monitoring the situation giving clear directions to the sate police to immediately crackdown on the ring leaders. Sources said the Home Ministry immediately swung into action as first reports of fresh violence in Kokrajhar started trickling in. “Adequate intelligence information and security personnel have been provided to the state police. Additionally, security along the Indo-Bangladesh border has also been strengthened.”
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