NE overtakes J&K, is India's most dangerous

Guwahati: Violence across India's North-eastern states often puts an unfortunate stamp of insecurity in the entire region. Now, the insurgency is becoming a major concern.

For the first time, the number of violent incidents and civilian casualties have overtaken even the figures in Jammu & Kashmir.

A Home Affairs Ministry report says: "North-eastern states recorded 1,500 incidents as compared to 1,000 in Jammu & Kashmir last year. Among them, Assam had the highest number of civilian casualties — 314."

Peace Studies professor, Guwahati University, Dr Nani Mahanta says, "It cannot be seen in isolation. The fact is that in J&K, in a very small way, the peace process has started and secondly Pakistan's role in instigating terrorism has also come down. It's also a fact that civilian casualties in Northeast in general and Assam in particular have gone up in recent times particularly in 2007."

However, even with the shadow of the gun across Northeast, some believe that it's more of fear in the mind that's making the situation worse than it is and stopping any including potential investors from looking east.

Three ambassadors from Sweden, Finland and Denmark are cuurently on a journey rarely taken by many — exploring India's northeast. Despite the violence though, the sound optimistic.

Denmark Ambassador, Olle Lonsmann Poulsen says, "The insurgency issue is not predominant with equal force in the whole area and I certainly feel that should not make investments impossible in the Northeast."

Adds the Sweden Ambassador, Lars-Olof Lindgern, "It's perhaps a bit exaggerated. Of course, there are risks wherever you go. Risk as you describe where one cannot go anywhere without being killed or kidnapped is very exaggerated. We need a nuanced and balanced viewpoint."

This balance that might be achieved once investment interests in the Northeast — in areas like food processing, alternative energy like windpower, hydel power and knowledge sector expressed by the ambassadors are realised.

Right now, the efforts to erase the memories of violence and revive peace talks still remains a challenge.

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