Myanmar hands over 22 Northeast insurgents to India: officials

In a significant diplomatic gesture, Myanmar on Friday handed over 22 insurgents belonging to six Northeast outfits to India
Myanmar hands over 22 Northeast insurgents to India: officials

IMPHAL/GUWAHATI: In a significant diplomatic gesture, Myanmar on Friday handed over 22 insurgents belonging to six Northeast outfits to India, officials said. According to security officials, these militants include self-styled home secretary of National Democratic Front of Bodoland (Songbijit faction) — NDFB (S) — Rajen Daimary.

The officials said on condition of anonymity that the 22 insurgents linked to NDFB(S), United National Liberation Front (UNLF), People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (Pro), Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup, People's Liberation Army, and Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO) were brought to India on a special aircraft and handed over to Manipur and Assam police separately.

A senior security official in Guwahati said that the development is an "exceptional diplomatic success" of National Security Adviser Ajit Doval.

Altogether 12 of the 22 ultras are linked to four insurgent groups in Manipur while the remaining 10 are associated with NDFB (S) and KLO of Assam.

The Assam and Manipur police wanted these guerrillas for various crimes and violence.

In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, police authorities of Assam and Manipur would follow all health protocols, including quarantine, of these insurgents.

Several extremist outfits of Northeast India, including anti-talks faction of United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent) — ULFA (I) — operate from neighbouring Myanmar territories, considered as a safe haven for the outlawed groups.

Besides hideouts, the NE insurgents have training camps in the Myanmar forests for newly-recruited cadres.

Four north-eastern States — Arunachal Pradesh (520 km), Manipur (398 km), Nagaland (215 km) and Mizoram (510 km) — share 1,643-km of unfenced Indian border with Myanmar. (IANS)

STAFF REPORTER ADDS: Assam police on Saturday informed media in Guwahati that already 10 of the ultras belonging to the NDFB (S) and KLO of Assam have been quarantined, in a city hotel. Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Assam, GP Singh said, "We'll chalk out the future strategy on them after the quarantine period comes to an end."

The ADGP has identified the 10 quarantined militants as Rajen Daimary, Sansuma Basumatary, Gagaram Basumatary, Surju Brahmo and Sukuram Brahma (all of the NDFB-S); Bhajan Barman, Bishnu Roy, Jitendra Roy, Dhono Roy and Shanker Deb Barman (all members of the KLO).  

Top Headlines

No stories found.
Sentinel Assam
www.sentinelassam.com