Even as the Army is intensifying its operations in Sonitpur and Kokrajhar districts of Assam where National Democratic Front of Boroland (Songbijit) militants massacred 75 people, India has enlisted the support of Bhutan in tackling terrorist incidents along the border.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj spoke to the Bhutanese government at the highest level and it had responded positively, Ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said here on Friday.
Responding to queries, he said the Minister was trying to establish contact with other friendly countries in the neighbourhood for increasing cooperation in checking terror-related activities and flushing out terrorists from their territories. It is suspected that some of the key NDFB(S) leaders have slipped into neighbouring Myanmar.
“Cooperation with neighbouring countries will give a sharp edge to our anti-terror operations in the border areas of Assam,” government sources said adding the border with Bhutan had been sealed.
After a review of the security situation in Sonitpur and Kokrajhar districts of Assam, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh asked Army Chief General Dalbir Singh to intensify anti-militancy operations. They are said to have discussed joint operations with Bhutan and Myanmar against the NDFB(S), which has bases in both countries.
The Home Minister asked the Army Chief to ensure that peace was restored in Assam. Army presence would also be increased in Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya, where NDFB(S) militants have a footprint.
General Singh said 66 Army columns had been deployed in Assam.
