Assam Director General of Police GP Singh said no
civilian or security personnel casualties were witnessed in 2023, and the State
is now progressing at a very fast pace.
“For the first time after 1991, no civilian casualties
or security forces personnel were killed or kidnapped by any terrorist
organization in the State in 2023. With the improvement in the security
situation, AFSPA has been removed from the entire State except for four
districts. We are definitely in a much better position,” said GP Singh.
He further said the security forces have recovered
thousands of illegal and illicit weapons, including automatic weapons, across
the State in the past two years.
“Our constant effort is to unearth all the illegal and
illicit weapons in the State. In the last two years, more than a thousand
weapons have been recovered in the entire state, of which more than half are
automatic weapons,” DGP Singh added.
To a question about providing financial assistance to
the surrendered and former cadres of militant groups, the Assam DGP said, “Financial
assistance is one part of this; more than that, the fact is that Assam is now
progressing at a very fast pace”.
“It is more beneficial to be part of the development
story of Assam than to be outside in the jungle and actually contribute nothing
to the development story of the State. That being the main driving force, I am
sure everybody will come out and take part in the further development of Assam,”
DGP Singh added.
Talking about the ongoing peace talks with the pro-talk
faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), the Assam DGP hinted
that the peace accord with the faction would likely be signed this year.
“I don’t think we will have to wait for another year.
It will be signed much before that,” said DGP Singh.
Appealing to the ULFA-I chief Paresh Baruah to come
and take part in the development story of Assam, DGP Singh said, “The Assam
Chief Minister (Himanta Biswa Sharma) has repeatedly said Baruah should come
and see the development going on in the State. When he comes here to see
development, he will decide to stay back”.
“I request everybody, including Paresh Baruah, to come
and be part of the development story of Assam and ensure that everybody enjoys
the fruits of the development without any fear.”
ANI
