Updated on Tuesday, January 06, 2009, 00:00 IST

New Delhi, Jan 06: Militants operating in the northeast are finding safe haven in Bangladesh and Myanmar while many of them are being supported by Pakistan, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Tuesday said.

"The militants of the northeast are finding haven in Bangladesh and Myanmar and many of them are also being supported by Pakistan. So we have to deal sternly with them," Gogoi said at the day-long conference of chief ministers on internal security here.

According to him, since the activities of these terror groups are getting support from foreign countries, there is an urgent need for Central and state agencies to join hands to fight them.

"Country's unity and integrity has been threatened by the terrorist activities. These terrorists are being sponsored by foreign countries. Therefore, to tackle them, the Central government as well as state governments should join hands," he said.

Gogoi termed the new National Investigation Agency (NIA) as a positive step.

"Terrorists after committing crime in Assam sneak into neighbouring states or neighbouring countries. In such cases state police or the state government cannot do anything. The Centre has to intervene which can be done through this body," he said.

Bureau Report