At least three dominant insurgent groups of the Northeast are being watched by the home ministry for their alleged role in the ongoing political crisis in Arunachal Pradesh.
Referring to intercepts and technical inputs, authoritative security sources told this newspaper that some Congress legislators were found to have been approaching anti-talks factions of Ulfa and the NSCN-K in Tirap and Changlang districts asking them to use their influence to persuade 12 Congress MLAs from the districts to return to the party fold.
Refusing to divulge the names of the legislators, security sources, however, claimed that the NSCN (I-M) has played a proactive role in influencing 12 Congress legislators who deserted Mr Tuki recently.
Pointing out that out of 21 Congress legislators challenging the leadership of chief minister Nabam Tuki, 12 are from Tirap and Changlang districts, security sources said the United Liberation Front of West South East Asia, a new militant platform comprising the anti-talks factions of Ulfa, NSCN(K), National Democratic Front of Bodoland (Songbijit) and Kamatapur Liberation Organisation (KLO), has extended support to the Nabam Tuki camp.
The Arunachal Legislative Assembly has been witness to several political upheavals that have often resulted in political crises, even toppling governments. Current CM Nabam Tuki, who is facing an uprising himself, was instrumental in toppling the Jarbom Gamlin government in 2011. It is significant that security agencies had come across similar inputs when the Gamlin government was toppled.
The security sources, however, regretted that the involvement of insurgent groups in a political crisis may provide them with funds desperately sought by the militants.
Meanwhile, the Gauhati high court will be hearing a case regarding the Arunachal Pradesh political crisis on Monday. In its last order the court has directed Assembly Speaker Nabam Rebia not to exercise any of his powers in his capacity as Speaker till January 4.
