Guwahati, Jan 29: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has claimed that certain sections of the Bangladeshi establishment, with the assistance of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), are attempting to revive militancy in Assam. Sarma made these allegations on Tuesday during a visit to Bodoland (Kokrajhar) to mark the fifth anniversary of the 2020 Bodo Peace Accord.

Sarma expressed confidence that these attempts would not succeed due to the lack of local support for militancy. “The people of Assam want peace, and there is no local support to spread such intentions,” he stated.

Addressing the issue of infiltration from Bangladesh, the Chief Minister highlighted that Assam’s borders are fully fenced, but additional surveillance technologies, such as drones, are being used to monitor and control infiltration, especially along the Brahmaputra River where fencing is not feasible.

Sarma also discussed Assam’s growing relationship with Bhutan, particularly the infrastructure developments taking place across the border, which could benefit the Bodoland region. He emphasized that the state government is committed to supporting the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) in its development efforts, with the state spending almost double the BTC’s annual budget on various projects.

Regarding the alleged involvement of exiled ULFA leader Paresh Baruah with ISI, Sarma stated that while Baruah may be in touch with certain elements, he believes the leader wants peace and would not destabilize Assam.

Sarma concluded by commenting on the potential ecological threat posed by a Chinese dam on the Brahmaputra River, expressing confidence that the Indian government is handling the matter diplomatically.