A new dimension to militancy in the Northeast?

Special Correspondent

Silchar, June 7: The deadliest ambush and attack on an army convoy of 6 Dogra Regiment at Paraolong village in Manipur Chandel district by a combined group of 6 militant outfits recently has jolted and rattled both the official and security circles, besides taking New Delhi by shock and surprise. This is the worst ever attack on the army in the last 2 decades. This has also at the same time raised the concern at the formation of a joint front of extremists groups comprising NSCN (K), People’s Liberation Army (PLA), United tion Liberation Front (UNLF), People’s Revolutiory Party of Kangleipak (Prepak), Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP), and Kanglei Yawol Kan Lup (KYKL).

The coming into being of the 6 extremists groups under the banner of United Liberation Front of South East Asia (UNLFW), according to insurgency watchers, has added a new dimension to insurgency in north east. But, it has to be noted that this is not for the first time that different underground outfits have come together. After flexing their muscles, they have made their exit. Records speak of formation of Indo-Burma Revolutiory Front (IBRF) with UNLF, NSCN (K) and ULFA on May 22, 1990. The joint declaration made by UNLF, NSCN (K) and ULFA frontline leaders included Sa Yaima, S S Khaplang and Arabinda Rajkhowa respectively vowed to fight for the liberation of Indo-Burma region from the colonial rulers. But, it existed for mesake.

It was followed by the birth of yet another group in 1995 in the me of United Liberation Front of Seven Sisters (ULFSS) by ULFA and NSCN. Hit by factiolism and split, ULFA opted out of the Front which subsequently eclipsed. Paresh Baruah, C-in-C, parted ways with Arabinda Rajkhowa over strategic differences and tactical moves. Baruah wanted aggressive and hawkish policy towards New Delhi in contrast to the soft approach of Rajkhowa. NSCN had split between Isaac-Muivah and Khaplang.

It was in 2002 that all the major Meitei insurgent groups of Manipur formed an umbrella organization under the me and style of Manipur People’s Liberation Front (MPLF). Quite interestingly, inner conflict and squabbling over distribution of extorted money as well as territorial hegemony drew a curtain over their bonhomie. MPLF could make headlines, but no headway and became inconsequential. Latest development indicates that Kamtapur Liberation Organization (KLO) and anti talk faction of NDFB might join UNLFW led by S S Khaplang, its chairman.

Against this backdrop, questions have been raised in knowledgeable circles about the continuation of UNLFW, described as a new face of terror in north east. It is this newly floated Front that has owned up responsibility for the attack on the army convoy. Intelligence agencies monitoring the insurgency developments said militant groups still in wilderness with extraneous forces backing them often become desperate to forge an alliance with one another for vengeance and extortions.

Intelligence quoting a statement of Paresh Baruah hinted all the extremist outfits outside the ambit of ceasefire are planning to form a common platform as a part of their strategy to secede from India. Such desperation is quite understandable. The loss of emotiol bases and virtual isolation from the masses as demonstrated in their larger participation in democratic process have pushed the extremists to the wall. Their own stand on sovereignty and total independence is also perplexing with different groups claiming chunks of territory of one another.

After being shunted out of Bangladesh and Bhutan, the underground outfits have now Myanmar as their safe shelter and hideout. Impeccable evidences of Chi propping them up are with the intelligence. It is no use to blame the intelligence failure or tactlessness on the part of the Dogra Regiment to move in one convoy. Time for the Centre is to go for proactive strategy, besides recasting its policy to deal firmly with north east militants. It is also important that Indo-Myanmar has to plan joint offensive against these underground elements in the jungles of Myanmar.

Top Headlines

No stories found.
Sentinel Assam
www.sentinelassam.com