In what may have serious implications over the security scenario of trouble-torn northeastern states, the anti-talk factions militant outfits of the region have started joining hands at the behest of Chinese security agencies and decided to intensify their armed struggle in close coordination.
Disclosing that Khaplang faction of National Socialist Council of Nagaland and elusive Ulfa chief Paresh Baruah are playing the key role from their hideouts at Taga in Burma, authoritative security sources told this newspaper that at least eight militant outfits of Manipur have already joined hand. It includes the United National Liberation Front (UNLF) and its associate Peoples Liberation Army (PLA), the Revolutionary Peoples’ Front (RPF), the Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL), Peoples’ Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (Prepak), Prepak (Pro), the United People’s Party of Kangleipak (UPPK), and the Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP).
In what has compelled the security agencies to suspect the growing indulgence of China into the northeast insurgency scenario, security sources said that northeast militant leaders had sought military support from Beijing to continue their armed struggle but Chinese intelligence agencies wanted them to float a joint platform of northeast rebel groups to get their support.
The confession of UNLF head Raj Kumar Meghen, who was present in the meeting of northeast militant leaders with Chinese security agencies, had corroborated the reports.
The pattern was also visible when security agencies in Assam found the presence of PLA rebels in Ulfa’s hit squad out to strike in Upper Assam districts in the run up to Ulfa’s martyr’s day on July 27.
In order to facilitate this unification move, the anti talk faction of Ulfa and NDFB has also made a lot of structural changes in the organisational set up of the outfits besides setting up a mobile military headquarters at Taga in Burma.
Security sources pointed out that Maoists leaders who are also in touch with PLA and Ulfa are suspected to have been playing the role of catalyst in unifying the armed rebels of northeast, as jointly their strength would cross over to 10,000 cadres.
The outlawed National Democratic Front of Boroland led by its commander I.K. Songbijir is believed to have given consent for unified armed struggle but was going slow for some tactical reasons.