Calcutta: Caught in a precarious situation between threat from Ulfa militants and the prospect that some of the country’s top stars may skip the National Games, the Assam government has insisted that the meet will be the “biggest-ever” and will truly capture the “cultural and social mosaic” of the state.

Addressing the media here on Wednesday, Assam’s power and industries minister Pradyut Bordoloi claimed that 33 states with about 10,000 athletes have already confirmed participation in the 10-day event, starting on February 9.

“We are determined to break the myth about Assam being unsafe and insecure. Apart from 20 company of paramilitary forces, we are also going to set up a special cell to make the Games’ security full proof. Like Phantom in the comic strip, you may not see our security personnel but they will be omnipresent to ensure nothing untoward takes place,” Bordoloi said.

However, Bordoloi described as “unfortunate” the news that top names in Indian sports such as Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, Jaspal Rana, Gagan Narang, Anju Bobby George and Kunjurani Devi may stay away on security grounds.

“I can’t verify. But if they don’t come, it will be unfortunate,” Bordoloi, who is also chairman of the Games’ reception committee, maintained.