NEW DELHI, March 9 � Confirming clandestine links between insurgents of North-east and China, the Centre has clarified that there are no specific reports to suggest that rebels in the North-east were offered sale of surface-to-air missiles by agents of Chinese intelligence agencies.
However, there have been inputs suggesting visit of some leaders of insurgent groups in the Northeastern Region to China on several occasions, with the objective to establish rapport with Chinese authorities to facilitate procurement of arms and ammunition from arms agents in that country, Minister of State, Home Affairs, Mullappally Ramachandran said in a Rajya Sabha reply.
The armoury being acquired from China by the insurgent groups is being smuggled through Thailand and Sino-Myanmar border to the Northeastern States. The acquisition of arms is facilitated by the easy availability of weapons in the Sino-Myanmar border towns like Tengchong, Ruili and Yingjiang in Yunnan province, the Minister said.
In order to prevent smuggling of arms from across the border, the Government of India has also voiced its concerns with the Governments of Myanmar and Bangladesh, over the reported smuggling of arms through their territories, the Minister added.
The State Governments in Northeastern States are being assisted in carrying out counter-insurgency operations through the deployment of central security forces for providing security to vulnerable institutions and installations, he added.
