Assam CM concerned over militant activities in northeast

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Monday expressed concern over the attacks on security forces by militant groups in the northeast region and asked the central government to take serious note of the menace.

His comment came a day after eight security personnel were killed when NSCN-Khaplang militants triggered a powerful blast and ambushed a convoy of the Assam Rifles in Nagaland along the border with Myanmar.

"It's a matter of concern and the central government must take it seriously. The development assumes significance as the militant groups have come together despite the differences they have," Gogoi said at a press conference.

"The recent attack also implies that the northeast region is still not free from insurgency."

The Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang (NSCN-K) faction in March withdrew from the ceasefire talks with the central government and stepped up its attacks on security forces in Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh.

The Assam chief minister also took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Gogoi said Modi talks of cooperative federalism, but the state government was not even consulted over the decision that areas in Assam will not be included in the India-Bangladesh land swap deal.