Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal chaired a top-level security-review meeting at the deputy commissioner's conference hall here on Sunday evening.

During the two-and-a-half-hour meeting, Sonowal was briefed about the prevailing law-and-order situation in the state by director-general of police Kuladhar Saikia.

Expressing concern over the spurt in militancy-related incidents in the state, Sonowal said the government would continue to fight insurgency and all insurgents would be dealt with an iron hand.

Stating the safety of citizens was of topmost priority of his government, the chief minister urged the security agencies to work with greater coordination and synergy to deal with insurgency in the state. Sonowal added that his government would extend all possible support to the security forces deployed in the state.

Stressing the need for better policing in the border areas of Assam, he said the police force would be provided with improved and modern gadgetry and weapons to discharge duties with full efficiency.

He emphasised that a peaceful environment was essential for overall progress of the state. Sonowal was apprised of the present strength and activities of security forces in the Upper Assam region.

The superintendents of police of all nine Upper Assam districts were present in the review meeting apart from top brass of the army and the CRPF.

Among those present were chief secretary Alok Kumar, additional director-general of police (prosecution)-cum-deputy inspector-general (eastern range) R.P. Meena and Dibrugarh deputy commissioner Laya Madduri.

Of late, there has been a spurt in insurgency-related incidents in Upper Assam. On November 1, five persons were gunned down by suspected Ulfa (I) militants at Dhola in Tinsukia district. It was followed by the abduction of a stone crusher plant’s manager in the Jagun area of Tinsukia on November 19. A tea garden manager from Charaideo district was abducted on Tuesday. An IED blast was carried out by Ulfa (I) at Demow in Sivasagar district on Thursday in which two persons were killed.