By IANS,
Shillong : In the wake of spurt of violence in Assam and Manipur, National Security Advisory Board (NSAB) chairman Naresh Chandra Monday said that the government would not allow a “few group of people” to disturb peace and tranquility in the northeast states.
“Public order will be maintained at all cost and the government cannot allow a few group of people to disturb peace and tranquility. Respective governments must take necessary steps against such people,” Chandra told journalists after reviewing the security situation in the northeast with respective government officials from the region.
He added: “A group of militants cannot take the public and community for granted and disturb peace and tranquility.”
Chandra said efficient border management remains a crucial factor for the country in its effort to improve the overall security scenario in the region.
“Borders need to be managed to control infiltration of militants, illegal migrants and arms into the country. Though our borders with Myanmar and Bangladesh cannot be physically sealed totally, they can be managed intelligently,” Chandra said.
India’s landlocked northeast shares a 4,500 km international border with Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar and China but connects with the rest of India by a 22 km strip of land called the Siliguri Corridor.
Work is on to fence this entire stretch, but unfenced areas remain vulnerable to infiltration.
Members and officials were of the view that connectivity in terms of road, railways and airways would help mitigate the militancy problem to some extent, he said.
“More focus on education to make people employable, emphasis on infrastructure development and improving the quality of developmental programmes in the region would help in addressing the insurgency problem,” Chandra said.
The board chairman said that with Myanmar and Bangladesh were now being viewed as “friendly” regimes. Chandra, however, cautioned that no move should be undertaken, which potentially undermines the overall security of the country and region in particular.
On China’s claim over Arunachal Pradesh, Chandra said the issues that were raised were more of concerns relating to water sharing.
“We are not so sure about China and so all such developmental matters of water sharing and others have to be taken up diplomatically,” Chandra said.
Chandra also called on Chief Minister Mukul Sangma and discussed the security situation in Meghalaya.