More Indian Security Forces for Northeast Border

Move to check militant movement to and from Myanmar

Maj. Gen. J.P. Nehra in Shillong on Tuesday. Picture by Eastern Projections Shillong, Jan 13 : The Centre has approved the deployment of 26 additional Assam Rifles battalions on the Indo-Myanmar border to check the activities of Northeast militants, including Ulfa cadres, who have been fleeing Bangladesh since the security forces launched a series of raids against them. The additional director-general of Assam Rifles, Maj. Gen. J.P. Nehra, told reporters here today that the additional battalions would be able to tackle Northeast militants taking shelter in Myanmar. The news conference was called in view of the upcoming celebration of 175 years of Assam Rifles in the Northeast. Gen. Nehra admitted that there had been an increase in the number of Northeast militants in Myanmar and that shortage of Assam Rifles personnel on the Indo-Myanmar border had hampered vigil. At present, only 15 battalions of the paramilitary force are manning the border from Arunachal Pradesh to Mizoram. Unlike the BSF, which has permanent border outposts, the Assam Rifles only has common operating bases on the Indo-Myanmar border. The manning of the border was entrusted to Assam Rifles after the Kargil war. Nehra said several hurdles, like rugged terrain and thin presence of security forces, were hindering effective control of the activities of Northeast militant groups on the Indo-Myanmar border. “The home ministry and other central security agencies have assured us that more forces would be deployed along the border to overcome the hurdles,” he added. Because of the thin deployment of Assam Rifles personnel in the Northeast, Nehra has called upon Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland to co-operate in containing militancy along the border. Nehra said there was a need for better co-ordination between the Assam Rifles and the Myanmar army, whose joint patrolling is now limited to verification of border pillars. He said the Myanmar authorities had assured the Assam Rifles that they were ready to take action against the Northeast militants taking shelter in their country. However, one problem in implementing the promise is the Myanmar army’s inability to reach the inaccessible and rugged terrain where the militants have set up camps.