The Burmese Army’s operation against Indian insurgent groups in Taga region of Burma was an eyewash conducted after tip-offs to rebel leaders about their proposed operation.
Disclosing that the Burmese Army had tipped off the militant leaders at least a week before the operation, authoritative home ministry sources told this newspaper that the Burmese Army had also informed them that they were entering Taga region on September 6-7 for operations.
The sources also referred to a press statement emailed by Ulfa on Wednesday (September 7) in which the outfit claimed that the Burmese Army had launched an offensive against them in the morning. However, the Burmese Army reached Taga area only on Wednesday evening. Security agencies keeping a close watch over developments in the frontier area have corroborating intercepts that there was no Burmese Army activity in Taga area up to 3.30 pm Wednesday.
The security sources said they suspect the Burmese Army colludes with Indian insurgent leaders and that they have wireless communications intercepts indicating that the rebels had shifted to new locations a day before the Burmese Army fired upon deserted camps. The sources said the Burmese Army routinely carries out cosmetic operations before thrice-a-year bilateral meetings with India and then claims to have cleaned up territory occupied by Indian insurgents.