GUWAHATI, March 30 – In a sensational revelation that could well change the implications of militancy in the North East, Director General of Assam Police GM Srivastava today said that around 14 foreign countries including the United States of America (USA) are acting as support systems to the militant groups operating in the region in one way or the other. The list also includes countries like China, Singapore, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Nepal besides Bangladesh, Pakistan, Bhutan and Myanmar.
Srivastava also categorically said that two militant groups of the two hill districts including the DHD (J), of late, had surprisingly started conducting training programmes in new venues like Nepal and Singapore and they also held six rounds of meeting in the last few months. The soil of Singapore, according to the DGP, is also being used for weapons deals by the NE-based outfits.
Srivastava said that there are recent inputs about CIA backing Pakistan’s ISI to influence the insurgent groups, especially ULFA for their vested interest.
The Assam Police chief also told The Assam Tribune that a few more crucial inputs about the activities of the militant groups in foreign soil would unfold in the near future, adding that banned outfits like the ULFA have now started investing not only in Bangladesh but also in other foreign countries.
Srivastava, however, refused to divulge the details of these involvements, while maintaining that not in all cases are the respective Governments involved.
“These are the excerpts of the report prepared by the Police department based on the statements of neutralised militants and specific intelligence inputs,” the DGP said.
“Sometimes, the involvement is direct and sometimes it is indirect. These support systems comprise the government agencies, political parties and even the non-governmental organisations (NGOs). The components of the support system differs from country to country,” the DGP asserted
Srivastava, while ring to these issues during a seminar on ‘National Security and Development Issues in Assam’ called for a methodology that would ensure the presence of the law enforcing agencies in the foreign countries as well. The seminar was organised by Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad Institute of Asian Studies, Kolkota.
The police chief also mentioned that even the funds earmarked for development works is being siphoned off to boost the finance of the militant groups.
“There have been several instances where a big portion of funds allotted for development works were diverted to the kitty of the militant groups. The balance-sheet shows entry of certain amount of money for such organisations,” he said, while reiterating that ULFA has a business to the tune of around Rs 860 crore to Rs 960 crore, of which the share of ULFA’s commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah is around Rs 300-400 crore.
Baruah also owns 40 per cent share of a multinational company, the DGP claimed.