The Hindu : National : Assam tables Bill to increase preventive detention period

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Wednesday, Jan 07, 2009
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Assam tables Bill to increase preventive detention period

Sushanta Talukdar

Doors always open for dialogue with militants, says Governor

Members of the Opposition raise slogans
Governor compelled to cut short speech

Guwahati: The Assam government on Monday proposed to amend the Assam Preventive Detention Act, 1980, and increase the period of detention from six months to two years.

The State government tabled the Assam Preventive Detention (Amendment) Bill 2009 in the Assembly on the first of the six-day January session of the House to incorporate this amendment.

Under the existing provisions, the State government or any State government officer not below the rank of Secretary or a District Magistrate may issue an order directing a person to be detained for a maximum period of six months to prevent him from acting in a manner prejudicial to the security of the State, the maintenance of public order, or supplies and services essential to the community. The Act received the President’s assent on July 19, 1980.

Earlier, as soon as the House assembled and Governor S.C. Mathur started reading out his speech, members of the Opposition stood up and raised slogans accusing the State government of failing to protect the lives and property of the common people.

The Governor was compelled to cut short his speech and read the last paragraphs following which Speaker Tanka Bahadur Rai announced that the speech was taken as read.

The Governor announced that the State government was committed to restoring peace in Assam and the doors were always open for a dialogue with the militants.

“The State government would like to urge all insurgent groups to come forward for talks within the framework of the Constitution,” he said. Mr. Mathur said the serial blasts in the State on October 30 and on January 1 in the city were a setback after the ceasefire agreements with various militant outfits and the unilateral ceasefire by the ‘A’ and ‘C’ companies of the United Liberation Front of Asom.

The Governor claimed that the multi-pronged approach of the State government — sustaining counter-insurgency operations against active and recalcitrant militant groups on the one hand and making peace overtures to groups ready for negotiated settlement had paid rich dividends. This was reflected in the ceasefire agreement signed with various outfits.

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi told reporters on Sunday that he had been expressing his desire to be relieved of the responsibility of heading the Unified Command – the three-tier counter-insurgency structure of the Army, Assam Police and Central Paramilitary forces as it kept him too preoccupied with law and order.

Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram during his recent visit to the State requested Mr. Gogoi and his Cabinet to devote their entire energy to development issues.

Mr. Chidambaram said the security forces would deal with those who threatened the country’s sovereignty.

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