Al Qaeda outfit trying to set up base in Assam: Tarun Gogoi

Days after Al-Qaeda issued a video threatening to carry out its campaign in India and expand its base in several states, including Assam, state Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi confirmed the report.

He recently said that there is a possibility of ISI-backed al- Qaeda collaborating with Northeast insurgent groups like anti-talk faction of ULFA.

Gogoi also revealed that the security forces have received intelligence reports of possible disturbances and are taking steps to prevent any such attempts.

"In Assam, there are several groups like Al-Qaeda and Pakistan's ISI are trying to set up their base. They have been making such attempts to establish their hold for quite some time now," said Gogoi.

"We have got information that insurgent groups based in Assam are lending support to them. I have alerted the concerned people," he confirmed.

Earlier this month, the centre had issued a country-wide alert after an al-Qaeda video surfaced in which it announced the formation of an Indian branch and invited recruits.

Previously also there have been reports of Al-Qaeda trying to hire youth from the region and attempting to establish its foothold in Northeast by collaborating with the insurgent groups.

There were media reports of recruitment of some youth from Manipur's Lilong area by al Qaeda outfit.

However, Manipur Chief Minister, O Ibobi Singh denied any such recruitment of youth from the state.

"Earlier, there was a report and we verified but till today there are no specific details. And in that particular village regarding where the report had come, we verified from their parents also and they said that it is not true," he said.

The presence of various militant outfits makes the northeast region a vulnerable target for different terrorist organizations.

The government has been trying to deal with the threat seriously so that peace in the region is not hampered.