The Hindu : National : Buddhadeb sees conspiracies to destabilise country

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Friday, Jul 27, 2007
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Buddhadeb sees conspiracies to destabilise country

Marcus Dam

‘Chance of U.S. influence in subcontinent can’t be ruled out’

“Terrorists are active along borders”
Explosives used in blast at Belakoba were brought from outside

KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on Thursday said certain international forces were hatching conspiracies to destabilise the country. Terrorists were active along the western and eastern borders and his Government was working with the Centre to tackle them.

Replying to a question in the State Assembly whether the United States was behind the conspiracy, he said he was not in a position to make any comment on whether it had a hand behind the activities in the country. “But the possibility of American influence in the subcontinent cannot be ruled out.”

The shape terrorism was taking in the subcontinent could be discerned if one looked at the developments in Pakistan and Afghanistan, he said.

Expressing concern over the attempts by terrorist outfits to create disturbances in the State, he cited the blast at Belakoba in Jalpaiguri district last year. The explosives used in the blast were brought from outside, he pointed out.

Asked about the activities of the Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO), he said there was a lull after its operatives were driven out of Bhutan a few years ago. But, while some sought shelter in a neighbouring country, the KLO was trying to regroup in parts of north Bengal and it was being supported by the United Liberation Front of Asom.

Besides a vigil against the KLO, there was exchange of information on terrorist activities among the State Government, the Centre, the Army and the Border Security Force. A special reserve battalion was being raised to combat terrorist activities in the State.

In reply to another question, the Chief Minister said 40 persons were killed in political clashes in the State last year. Twenty-four of them belonged to the Communist Party of India (Marxist), he said.

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