The Assam government has submitted written requests to the prime minister and the Union home minister for setting up of a hub of National Security Guard in Guwahati dedicated to the entire north-eastern region affected by insurgency.
Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has submitted separate requests to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Home Minister P Chidambaram in view of the state's and the region's vulnerability against terror, an official source said.
The state government's argument in support of its request is that the region is surrounded by foreign countries where armed groups and foreign agencies inimical to India were based.
The region shares 98 per cent of its border with foreign countries in all directions and is connected to the mainland India only through a 26 kilometer corridor in North Bengal making it quite vulnerable to terror strikes sponsored by anti-India forces.
He also requested the Union government not to withdraw the additional companies of central paramilitary forces deployed in the state after the October 30 serial blasts in Guwahati, Barpeta Road, Kokrajhar and Bongaigaon. Fourteen additional companies of paramilitary forces were rushed to the state in the wake of the serial blasts and the state government wants the forces to remain for a longer period to help tackle the situation.
Gogoi also met United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi on Wednesday to apprise her about the latest internal security scenario in the state.
Gogoi also informed the central leaders about his government's blueprint for modernisation of the state police force in respect of training, use of technology and equipment to make the force potent enough to face the challenge posed by the terror groups.