DIMAPUR, Sept 14 - The Assam Rifles has refuted reports about the Army conducting an operation against NSCN(K) in Myanmar, a Press release said.
It said news reports on Army ops against NSCN (K) inside Myanmar were wrong. According to IGAR(North) the genesis of the reports appeared to be based on some mischievous comments posted in Social Media sites like Facebook by inimical elements.
Involvement of Myanmar-based NSCN (K) in the matter is a strong possibility especially after the NIA announcement of Rs 17 lakh bounty on Khaplang and Niki Sumi.
�On September 10. a party of Assam Rifles while going to Avangkhu for conducting a medical camp was fired upon by cadres of NSCN(K). The party was also tasked to carry out verification of border pillars. Consequent to the ceasefire abrogation, the isolated posts at Pokhungri, Pungro and Ziphu in Phek district were closed down. Since then, it was imperative to send a large posse of troops for carrying out verification of border pillars to ensure security of the troops�, the press note from Assam Rifles stated.
The intention of sending Assam Rifles troops to Avangkhu on September 10 was to carry out a medical camp there as well as to verify the border pillars in the area. After the Assam Rifles troops were fired upon by cadres of NSCN(K) enroute to Avangkhu, it was decided to send a bigger force to verify the border pillars and also prevent movement of NSCN (K) cadres from the border to Avangkhu and Pokhungri villages.
�Movement of Assam Rifles troops towards the border has unnecessarily been construed as movement across the border and linked up with some uncorroborated operations against Tsera Camp of NSCN (K). There is no road existing from Avangkhu to Tsera village in Myanmar except a foot track. Further, there was a landslide between Pokhungri and Avangkhu due to which all vehicles were stationed at Pokhungri. Therefore all movement upto Avangkhu was carried out on foot. So there is absolutely no question of any vehicle or soldiers moving across the border.
However, since NIA has declared a large cash bounty for information about Khaplang and Niki Sumi, the possibility of other factions attacking the Tsera Camp is very likely, the press note added.
