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Gogoi to head Unified Command structure
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January 16, 2007 13:57 IST
Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi will henceforth head the Unified Command structure for anti-insurgency operations instead of the Chief Secretary.

"The entire Unified Command structure will henceforth be directly under me and I will be presiding over all meetings of the Command," Gogoi said in Dibrugarh on Monday night.

He said that he would take all policy decisions regarding anti-insurgency operations. This would, however, not mean any political pressure on the security forces and the police but the decision was taken to provide appropriate guidance.

"The security forces are free to flush out militants. Our policy is to secure long-term peace in Assam, not to hunt and kill militants. ULFA must give up killing and extortions to pave the way for a meaningful dialogue," Gogoi said.

The chief minister further said that the Unified Command required better cooperation from Arunachal Pradesh to flush out the militants holed up in the forests across the boundary.

"The response from Arunachal Pradesh has been encouraging so far but there is scope for improvement and from now on our officers will hold regular talks with their counterparts in the neighbouring state," he added.

The chief secretary was so far the head of the three-tier Unified Command comprising the army, police and paramilitary forces.




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