Cop move to halt 'red' advance

SUMIR KARMAKAR

Assam police headquarters Guwahati, June 22: Assam police today initiated steps to set up counter-Maoist cells in at least nine districts into which the red rebels have reportedly made inroads and are busy strengthening their base. The three Upper Assam districts of Tinsukia, Dibrugarh and Lakhimpur already have counter-Maoist cells, headed by an additional superintendent of police. A police source quoted Assam director-general of police J.N. Choudhury as saying that similar cells should be set up in Golaghat, Dhemaji, Sivasagar, Goalpara, Kamrup and Cachar where Maoists were slowly gaining ground. Choudhury was speaking at a two-day meeting with additional directors-general of police and inspectors-general of police that began yesterday. The top officers reviewed police preparedness to counter Maoist activities in the state and other law and order-related subjects during the meeting. A senior police officer who attended the meeting told The Telegraph that Choudhury asked his officers to prepare their personnel in six other Maoist-hit districts to tackle any law and order problem that the red rebels might create. "Maoists in Assam so far are busy with their political activities but the meeting discussed how to prepare ourselves and make sure that they cannot exploit the situation and create law and order problems in future," he said. The special anti-Maoist cells, according to the officer, will have facilities to maintain digital records of Maoist members active in the respective districts along with their photographs and exchange these with other police and intelligence officials for quick response. "The cells will also look after electronic interception of communication between Maoists and monitor their movement. These will also monitor the use of mobile phone SIM cards and take it up with mobile service providers for action whenever necessary," he said. Sources said the officers also discussed Maoist activities in Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi in the meeting. Maoist presence in these districts had come to light following arrest of two CPI (Maoist) central committee members — Anukul Naskar alias Pareshda from Silchar last month and Aklanta Rabha from Guwahati. The police have also arrested six Maoist leaders, including three women, from different parts of the state since April 26. The meeting also reviewed police action to check the increase in cases of extortion, a surge of which was reported despite a reduction in militant activities across Assam, with more than 1,500 cases being registered in the state since January 2012. "In many cases, criminals have been found demanding money in the name of a militant group and we are preparing ourselves to tackle the situation," a source said, adding that cases of vehicle theft were also discussed in the meeting. http://www.telegraphindia.com/1130623/jsp/frontpage/story_17038491.jsp#.UccBcueBloI