4 NE States to have anti-terror schools

March 2 – Four of the eight North eastern States would have Counter Insurgency and Anti-terrorist Schools (CIATs).

Of the 20 CIATS proposed to be set up, 13 schools have already been set up and are functional. In the North-east CIAT would be located in Assam, Manipur, Nagaland and Tripura.

The government has sanctioned Rs 52.40 crore for the scheme. Rs 25.50 crore was released to the State governments. Assam has so far been given Rs 4.5 crore, of which it has utilised Rs 3.38 crore, Minister of State for Home Affairs Gurudas Kamat said in a Lok Sabha reply on Tuesday.

Significantly, though militancy is on the wane in several Northeastern States the threat can never be ruled out. Most of the militant groups in the region are presently engaged in talks with the Centre.