North-east on road to peace: Army Chief

     New Delhi: Chief of the Army Staff, General JJ Singh has said that violence in the north-eastern region is on the wane. He said that the situation in the north-east has improved and in many states the insurgents are coming back to the mainstream to lead a normal life. "The situation in the north-eastern states has improved. In Manipur, we are trying to bring the militants to the mainstream life. And we have succeeded to a great extent," said Gen Singh in his address on the occasion of the Army Day celebrations in New Delhi.

   Dozens of armed groups are campaigning either for freedom or more political autonomy in the north-eastern states for more than three decades, particularly in Manipur and Assam. In Manipur, the insurgent groups have accused the Centre of neglecting the development and welfare of the people in the landlocked state bordering Myanmar. The insurgents had only last month, opened fired on a vehicle carrying the Inspector General of Police, Manipur, killing him and his driver on the spot. The officer was the senior most police official to be killed in the separatist violence in more than a decade, and had sparked fears that the insurgents were once again trying to take hold. General Singh however, denied speculation of any setback, and said that barring isolated incidences, the northeast was on a path to peace.

    He further said that situation in Kashmir was under control, though attempts to sneak in across the Line of Control (LoC) by Pakistan-based militants continued unabated. India had earlier this week refused to cut troop levels in Jammu and Kashmir, as urged by Islamabad, saying that separatist operations continued from Pakistani territory. New Delhi has said that despite the two-year peace process, Pakistan continues to abet terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and turns a blind eye towards infiltrations across the LoC from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). "Infiltration has been kept under control. There is an up in the elimination list also. During every operation at least three militants are being eliminated on an average ratio," said General Singh.

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