IMPHAL, Feb 6: Director General of Assam Rifles Lt Gen Rameshwar Roy admitted to regular violations of cease-fire ground rules by cadres of NSCN-IM without evincing any indication that it might lead to any eminent threat.
The DG AR who is on a two-day visit of the state was talking to reporters on the sideline of a visit to Sainik School, Pangei.
Lt Gen Roy stated that the ceasefire is still prevailing baring the intermittent breaches and gave reassurances on the security forces’ commitment to fully enforce the basic guidelines. He said, militants flouting the ground rules have been booked and handed over to right law enforcement agencies as the paramilitary cannot act directly and the established democratic set of laws have to be followed.
He contended that the militants groups in the state have lost the courage to directly confront the security personnel. Instead, they have resorted to attacking like a thief, laying covert assault and fleeing immediately afterwards, he said. He dared the militants to come out and establish their popularity democratically through the power of ballot, claiming that the largely peaceful assembly was an indicator of the security forces’ hold on the law and order situation in the state.
The DG was unambiguous about his views on complete implementation of AFSPA in the state, claiming that the security forces have been able to operate more freely in areas covered by the Act unlike the Imphal municipality from where it has been exempted.
Responding to a question on border fencing along Myanmar boundary, Lt Gen Roy said its completion would take a while considering the long distance that had to be covered.
Lt Gen Roy was at his candid best through out the evening while responding to questions on the paramilitary’s participation in the welfare of the state. He said the recruitment policies of the AR clearly favour the northeastern states which have the lion’s share with a total reservation of 40 pc. Unfortunately, the region has not been able to take up more than 32 percent, he said and expressed his desire that the full capacity of intake are fully utilised. Towards this objective, organization of pre-recruitment training camps has been taken up so that the candidates are better prepared for the real test, he said.
Besides its prioritization on security commitment, the paramilitary also engaged itself in developmental works in remote areas and several public welfare schemes, he stated.
Earlier, Lt Gen Roy enthused the students of the school with his insightful and practical solutions, neatly supported by personal anecdotes, on fulfilling their dreams of joining the Indian army during an open interaction that lasted for half-an-hour.
The DG who laughed over the silliness of the notion of openly enjoying ‘liqour and cigarette’ motivating him to enlist himself with the army, compared his rich experience with the Indian army to drinking filtered water. He dwelt on the immediate recognition that followed his selection to the IMA, Pune, how he turned his back on drinking and smoking as well as his present anxieties on the thought of leaving the cocoon of the army which awaits his retirement in a year.
A career with the army seemed to have lost its lust with more tempting professions in the offing but the feeling of protection it provided could not be found elsewhere, he said. He encouraged the students to take advantage of the military atmosphere in the school and yearn for a successful career in the force.
