DoNER minister discusses region's security issues

DoNER Minister Jitendra Singh on Friday convened a meeting of senior intelligence officers and security experts to discuss new security related-initiatives that could be successfully implemented in the northeast region.

The meeting was attended by senior officials, including National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, Joint Intelligence Committee chairman R.N. Ravi and Intelligence Bureau Director Dineshwar Sharma.

The development of north eastern region (DoNER) minister said there was a need for modernisation of police as well as increase of police modernisation grant for northeastern states.

"Redeployment in the region of the existing forces like Assam Rifles and ITBP (Indo-Tibetan Border Police) is also another topic that needs to be taken seriously," he said.

Singh said though the issue pertain to home ministry but had a strong bearing on development activities, economy and 'Act East Policy' related to the northeast region.

A number of suggestions were also made from the point of view of identifying trade corridors intra-regionally among the northeastern states as well as with the countries across the eastern borders and a suggestion for "integrated" check posts was also put forward for consideration.

They also discussed on the alienation of people leading to agitations and road-blockades affected both the economy as well as development activity and therefore decided on coming up with a blueprint to deal with problems.