Assam CM: Will not allow radical groups to mislead youth

Guwahati: CM Himana Biswa Sarma on Sunday said his govt will not allow any radical outfit or individual to mislead the youth and ruin their future.In a post on his ‘X’ handle, the CM wrote, “We will not allow any group or individual to mislead our youth and ruin their future by radicalising them. Assam will give it back firmly. A counter radicalisation cell will be established to protect vulnerable youth from extremist influence.”His statement came two days after governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya, in his customary speech to the newly elected 16th state assembly on Friday, spoke about the establishment of the cell.Peace agreements with various militant groups, including all four factions of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) and Dimasa National Liberation Army (DNLA) have been signed in the last 10 years, except the United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent (Ulfa-I). Over 10,000 members of those outfits joined the mainstream.The governor on Friday appealed to the Ulfa-I, which remains the only major outfit outside this peace process, to join the mainstream and contribute to the growth and development of Assam.It may be mentioned that police have arrested over 100 people in the last 10 years for their alleged involvement in fundamentalist activities in the state.