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(Assam): In a major setback to Naxals trying to create instability in the region, security forces recently gunned down four Maoist cadres here and recovered arms and live ammunition from their possession. The deceased were identified as Siddhartha Buragohain, Rajeev Gogoi, Arup Chetia and Kamala Gogoi. Two other Maoists are at large and search is on to nab them. The Centre and the state government have taken serious notice about the presence of Maoists in six districts of Upper Assam - Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Sadiya, Dhemaji, Sibasagar and Jorhat. Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram had recently expressed satisfaction with Assam ’s contribution towards combating Maoist threat along the Assam- Arunachal border, while urging the latter to “keep the pressure”. “There is minimal presence of CPI (Maoist) cadres along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border. Assam has been doing its part against the Maoist rebels and I have asked the Arunachal Pradesh chief minister to keep the pressure on so that the rebels cannot get a foothold in the peaceful state,” Chidambaram had said. According to intelligence reports, Maoists are trying to establish an armed wing in lower Assam and have established links with militant outfits of the northeast. Maoists have also begun extortion activities in the region and are recruiting youth from poor and marginalized sections of the society. Assam chief minister Tarun Gagoi said that the encounter has proved that Maoists have established their base in the state. “ I have been telling for the last few years that Maoists are trying to establish bases and after the recent encounter it has been proved that Maoists have already established their base in Assam ,” he said. Maoist are uniting with Paresh Baruah, whose ULFA faction has condemned the killings of Maoists in Tinsukia Assam government has decided to raise a special police force to take on the Maoists and expedite the development process in the backward areas. State police has also stepped up vigil to combat the Maoists and have asked for deployment of additional troops in the region.

Security forces gun down four Maoists in Assam