One ULFA (I) rebel was killed and another one apprehended by Myanmar Army during the operations launched by them against Northeast insurgent groups at Taga in Myanmar’s Sagaing division.

Myanmar army launched offensive to flush out Northeast rebel groups–ULFA-I, NSCN-K, NDFB-S and KLO—who have bases in the Burmese territory.

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According to Army sources, on February 2, gunbattle took place between ULFA (I) and Myanmar Army in which one cadre of the banned outfit was killed and another one was nabbed by the Tatmadaw, the official name of the armed forces of Burma.

According to reports, six members of the NSCN-K were also arrested by Myanmar Army during the operations.

Sources said senior leaders of NSCN (K) approached Myanmar to resolve the issue.

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The Myanmar army launched an operation against the NSCN (K) camp in the Naga self-administered zone in Sagaing region and took control of the NSCN-K’s headquarters in the village of Taga in Nanyun Township on January 29.

According to reports, the Myanmar Army also seized various documents and video footage that reportedly shows Assam-based militants staying in the NSCN-K land besides recovering a huge cache of arms and ammunition during the operation.

A military column consisting of over 400 troops from six battalions, led by the Hkamti district tactical commander under the Tatmadaw’s North-West Command, had taken control of the NSCN-K’s headquarters ‘without a shot being fired’.

As per reports, the rebel group withdrew its troops and let the Tatmadaw occupy its headquarters so as not to disrupt the peace process between that exists between the group and the Myanmarese government.

Sources said that Indian government is mounting a diplomatic pressure on Myanmar government to act against the rebel groups of the Northeast.

In the last year, India’s security adviser Ajit Doval had visited Myanmar and discussed the issue of Northeast insurgents, who are taking refuge in Myanmar’s land.

After meeting the top officials of Myanmar, Doval said to have boosted the bilateral security cooperation.

Sources said that Myanmar’s government has decided to free their lands which were used by the Northeast insurgents for anti-India activities.

As per sources, Naga insurgents have a stronghold in Myanmar and they are trying their best to sort out the issue with the Myanmar government.

Four Northeastern states share their boundary with Myanmar and it very easy for the insurgents to sneak into Indian territory after taking training in Myanmar’s camp.

According to Army, after the assault from the Myanmar army, most of the camps of the NSCN (K), ULFA (I), NDFB (S) and KLO were evacuated and most of the cadres escaped from the area.

During operation, the Myanmar army seized a huge quantity of arms and ammunition from the camps.

For several decades, Myanmar has been used by the Northeast insurgents.

“The Indian security forces are ready for any combat if any insurgents groups try to sneak into Indian territory,” an Army official said.

It is learnt that the ULFA (I) top brass started negotiation with China to resolve the matter by creating pressure on Myanmar.

It will be interesting to see how ULFA (I) commander-in-chief Paresh Barua can influence China to resolve the issue.

China has been backing the insurgent’s groups of the Northeast to continuing the proxy war in Northeast because of their larger interest in Northeast. Despite several attempts from the Indian side, Chinese has seen list bothered about the issue.

Indian Army chief Bipin Rawat is in a two-day Arunachal tour to take stock of the security scenario of the region. The army chief on Monday visited HQ 25 Sector Assam Rifles at Lekhapani.

It’s an important development that during Rawat’s Northeast tour, Myanmar Army launched an operation to flush out militants of the region from their territory.

 

Avik Chakraborty is Northeast Now Correspondent in Dibrugarh. He can be reached at: [email protected]