Silchar, Feb. 8: The Assam government has been forced to review its decision to set up 10 border outposts to curb cross-border movement of militants in Cachar and North Cachar Hills districts because of the funds crunch in the state.

A senior Assam police official told newspersons here last night that Dispur had instructed the police headquarters to bring down the number of proposed border outposts so that the government could cut down on funds.

The official said each of the outposts would be manned by a company of policemen. The scheme also envisaged the construction of barracks, armoury for jawans and linking the outposts to the main roads by paved roads.

The probable sites for the outposts were Digli, Ayancherra, Moldoi Basti, Baghkhal and Chekrarcham in Cachar.

He, however, admitted that the situation in Cachar and North Cachar, which reeled under a series of ethnic clashes between the Hmars and the Dimasas last year, was improving. “There is peace in the twin districts now,” he said.

The official added that while Assam and Tripura police had decided to launch joint patrol along the border between the two states, such a proposal had come a cropper in Cachar because of Manipur’s lack of response.

The official rued that such gates were resurrected soon after they were demolished by the security forces.