Wednesday, December 21 2005 17:59 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The Centre today (Dec 21, 2005) said 'outside elements' were fomenting intra-tribal conflict in the sensitive North-East where the ground situation was showing signs of improvement.

The ground situation in the region was showing signs of improvement with people coming forward to speak against militants, Home Minister Shivraj Patil said in Rajya Sabha.

Replying to a brief discussion on the calling attention on violence in tribal-dominated areas in Assam, he said ground rules for the ceasefire clearly laid out that militants should not wander with arms.

Patil agreed with opposition members that 'outside elements' were behind the recent violence and said steps were being taken to identify and take action against them.

He said there had been increasing instances of public protests against high-handedness of militant cadres.

"The overall security situation in the North-East has shown signs of improvement not only in terms of declining levels of violence but also through growing public revulsions against mindless acts of terrorism," Patil said.

He said an Inquiry Commission headed by a retired High Court judge had been set up to look into violence in tribal areas.

Rejecting the demand for despatch of an all-party delegation to affected areas, Patil said a delegation, headed by the State Assembly Speaker, had visited the area and sending another delegation when the situation was getting normal was not advisable.