Fears of insurgency revival in Northeast look real

Guwahati: Indian diplomacy has failed to persuade neighbouring Myanmar to rein in the Northeast insurgent groups who pose a serious threat to the security of the region.

The insurgent groups were earlier thriving in Bangladesh and Bhutan, but the diplomatic pressure of the Indian government in 2001 onwards forced these rebels to shift their operational headquarters to Myanmar. Not only Bangladesh but Bhutan also launched operations to drive out Indian insurgent groups from their territories.

If the security sources engaged in discussion with Myanmar are to be believed, the government has taken up the issue with Myanmar, but its military regime has failed to take any effective steps to drive out the insurgents from its territory.

Referring to an upsurge in the activities of Ulfa (Independent), sources pointed out that there have been reports of cross-border movements of Ulfa(I) rebels in the areas bordering Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland. Stressing the need to increase security presence along the inter-state border areas, sources said that the majority of the insurgents groups have been able to survive the onslaught of security forces because of their base in Myanmar.

Former director general of police Mukesh Sahay said that there is need to increase security presence not only in the inter-state border areas but also along the border with Myanmar to check the militants' movement. He admitted that Northeast insurgency was thriving on "safe sanctuary" in Myanmar only.

The tragic death of Bhaskar Kalita, the officer-in-charge of Bordumsa police outpost in an encounter with Ulfa(I) rebels, has again highlighted the fact that there is need for concerted efforts to check the militants' movement. Highly placed sources told this newspaper that the militants mostly come down from their Aarakan camp in Myanmar by taking advantage of the porous international border and then they enter Assam through Arunachal Pradesh and on a few occasions they also come to India through the trijunction of Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Myanmar. They take shelter mostly in Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts of Arunachal Pradesh or Mon district of Nagaland and look for an opportunity to sneak into Assam. On a few occasions, they tried to attack the security forces also.

Security sources reiterated that despite repeated pleas by the Government of India, the Myanmar government is yet to launch any concerted offensive to drive out the militants. However, security sources argued that Myanmar has its own compulsions, as the presence of militants on its territory is not one of the priority concerns of the neighbouring country. Moreover, the Myanmar administration has hardly any presence in the areas where the militants are having their bases. The presence of a large Naga population is also helping the militants as they are using the facilities of the NSCN (K) in Myanmar.

The Myanmar government assured India on several occasions that strong action would be taken against the rebels using the territory of its country and a proposal was mooted for setting up a base of Myanmar Army in frontier areas where the militants are taking shelter. But no serious move by Myanmar is seen on the ground, sources said adding that the Government of India has also assured to help Myanmar in intensifying its presence in the frontier areas adjoining Naga Hills.

The recent report of the ministry of home affairs has also admitted that Ulfa (I) and National Democratic Front of Bodoland (Songbijit faction) cadres frequent the state in the areas bordering Assam and Myanmar for shelter and transit. In 2017, there were 61 incidents in which nine insurgents were killed and 44 arrested. There were 27 cases of extortion and kidnapping in the state during the year. There was, however, no casualty in security forces in the state in 2017.

Though, the home ministry in its report has recorded a sharp decline in violence in Assam, security experts feared that most of the insurgents are trying to regroup in Myanmar.

The major militant outfits presently active in Assam are Ulfa(I), NDFB(S) and Karbi People's Liberation Tigers (KPLT).