The Centre has kept the DHD(J)’s plea for ceasefire pact pending, even as decks were cleared for intensified operation against the outlawed ULFA. After the much-hyped review meeting by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) failed to take place, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) today stepped in and convened a review meeting at the official level with top officers of the State Government and paramilitary forces.

The meeting chaired by Union Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta was attended by Joint Secretary (North-east) Navin Verma, State Chief Secretary P.C.Sarma, DGP R.N.Mathur and IGP (Special Branch) Khagen Sarma, besides DG, CRPF and additional DG, Border Security Force (BSF) and senior Army officials.

The meeting primarily reviewed the deployment of the forces in the trouble-torn North Cachar Hills, where a number of projects including the mega Lumding-Silchar Gauge Conversion Project have come to a grinding halt following endless bouts of killings in the district. Since May, at least 27 persons, mostly belonging to railways, were killed.

Official sources said the meeting reviewed the security of the infrastructure projects in the NC Hill district, particularly construction of broad-gauge railway line and NHAI projects.

The stalling of the project work and train services in NC Hill, where work on East-West Corridor is also going on, has led to a storm of protests from neighbouring States of Mizoram and Tripura, which were faced with crisis of essential commodities.

The PMO was forced to intervene and though it convened review meetings, which were to be attended by the Chief Ministers of the concerned States, those were postponed twice.

The meeting today took stock of the situation arising out of the unilateral declaration of ceasefire by some ULFA cadres. The violence in the Bodo Territorial Autonomous District area was viewed with concern and effective measures to deal with this were discussed.

Sources said that Assam Government officials brought up the issue of unilateral ceasefire announced by the Jewel Garlossa faction of the DHD, which is responsible for the recent violent incidents in the area.

Today’s meeting, however, could not arrive at a decision on whether the Centre should reciprocate the gesture. The Centre and the State reportedly agreed to wait and watch the situation for the moment. The Government already has a ceasefire pact with the rival faction of the DHD.

The DHD(J) faction had formally approached the Assam Government for a ceasefire in last month when it formally submitted a letter to Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi. However, the State Government has so far refused to oblige the militant outfit.

The government will not toe the ceasefire line immediately. The group can use the time to regroup and re-arm,’’ a State Government spokesman had said.

The DHD (J) is demanding an autonomous region within the NC Hills district with departments like Home and Police under them.

Meanwhile, the meeting today had also reviewed the situation following ULFA 28th battalion’s ceasefire announcement. The meeting noted the arrangements made for those who came out. The cadres belonging to the 28th battalion have since moved to the designated camps, though the government is yet to come out with a set of guidelines.

Sources said the review meeting decided to intensify operations against the ULFA in coming days. In this connection, the Army gave its inputs and Centre has now given the green signal to resume operations against the outfit, sources said.

The Home Ministry also reviewed the progress of the move to despatch the surrendered NDFB cadres to the designated camps. Pending resumption of a political dialogue, the Centre has been talking tough with the NDFB following complaints of gross violation of the ground rules.