November 28, 2001

'5'

        Militants operating in North-East are indulging in extortions apart from abductions for ransom.

        There is, however, no confirmed information about the foreign accounts deposit of the funds by the militant groups operating in North East.

        The State Governments in North East have taken up steps to check the extortion by various outfits from officers/individuals by deploying plain clothes security personnel at important offices and checking payment of salaries in respect of Government employees, who are alleged to have helped the Under Ground outfit on extortion. Many terrorists were arrested by police and booked under relevant sections of law. Other steps like deployment of additional armed police personnel and regular patrolling/combing activities by the police and para-military forces are being undertaken frequently to curb their activities.

        This information was given by the Minister of State for Home, Shri Ch. Vidyasagar Rao in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.