India, Nov 24- The Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) was repealed in some areas of Nagaland, Assam, and Manipur earlier this year
Centre has asked the police forces of the affected states to assess their readiness to handle security challenges and take the lead in counterinsurgency operations moving forward.
At a special conference of DGPs of these states and regional heads of 12 central agencies, it was explained that special units of the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D) and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) are being set up in the Northeast to train police personnel in operations, investigations, and prosecution.
The two-day conference in Agartala, Tripura, was organized by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and Intelligence Bureau with the goal of fostering greater cooperation among state police forces in combating insurgency and smuggling.
The conference took on significance because it took place in the wake of Tuesday’s clash between Assam Police and residents of Meghalaya, which left six people dead. Topics covered at the conference included developments in Myanmar, counter-smuggling strategies, and ways to end the illicit drug trade.
According to sources, the DGPs of Assam and Meghalaya met and talked about ways to diffuse the situation even though the killings were not on the agenda. Meanwhile, a Meghalaya Cabinet delegation is scheduled to arrive in Delhi on Thursday to meet with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and demand that the CBI or NIA conduct an investigation into the incident.
According to state police sources, after discussions, some specific recommendations were made, one of which was to prioritize getting ready for a no-AFSPA regime in the Northeast. States were advised, among other things, to promote information sharing about eminent drug traffickers and drug cases between their police and central agencies.
The need to increase the presence of state administration and border guarding personnel along the international border was also suggested in light of recent developments in Myanmar. Extension of intelligence sharing mechanisms from state to district headquarters was suggested, with senior officers overseeing the entire system.
The Center agreed to offer the support that is required in order for States to upgrade their forensic science labs for better investigation and prosecution
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Participants deliberated on topics such as insurgency, building police unit capacity to meet security challenges, disrupting drug trafficking networks, the impact of developments in Myanmar, and security requirements of the Act East Policy of the GOI, according to the MHA.
During the conference’s opening remarks, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha emphasized the need for improved coordination among Northeastern states in addressing security issues.
The AFSPA was completely repealed in Assam’s 23 districts and partially in one district in March, and it was also removed from 15 police station areas in six districts of Manipur and 15 police station areas in seven districts of Nagaland.
