GUWAHATI, May 17 � As the Government of Myanmar is yet to take effective steps to drive out the militants taking shelter in that country, the Government of India has decided to take strong steps to squeeze the fund flow to the camps of the ultras to make life miserable for them. Almost all the active militant groups of the Northeast have strong bases in Myanmar and despite repeated assurances, the Government of that country is yet to take strong action against them.
Highly placed security sources told The Assam Tribune that the ultras would be crippled if the flow of funds can be squeezed and the police and security forces have managed to do that to a large extent. The worst hit is the National Democratic Front of Boroland (S), while the other militant groups of the State, including the United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent), have also been affected as most people are not ready to pay the demanded amounts.
Sources pointed out that the movement of the militants with weapons has been restricted to a large extent following the massive crackdown launched after the killing of more than 70 persons by militants belonging to NDFB (S) on December 23, which, in turn, reduced the flow of funds to the coffers of the militants. Sources pointed out that the main source of income of the NDFB (S) was kidnapping and extortions, but in the last four months, the outfit failed to kidnap any person.
The security agencies recently received an input that the debt burden of the NDFB(S) has gone up to Rs 60 lakh and the leaders of the outfit staying in Myanmar called up the commander-in-chief G Bidai to urgently send money.
But Bidai himself is on the run and is not in a position to launch any extortion drive. During the ongoing operations, police and security forces managed to arrest 148 militants belonging to the outfit along with more than 160 linkmen and couriers. Those linkmen were used by the ultras to collect money on their behalf and they also acted as �spotters� for the outfit. As even the linkmen are now lying low, the militants are finding it hard to collect money.
The ULFA(I) is still getting money in trickles but most people are not ready to pay the demanded amount as was the case in the past. On their part, the ULFA(I) leaders making calls to people with demands for money, are also ready to negotiate the amount, sources added.
On the strength of the NDFB (S), sources said that those inside Assam including Bidai are on the run. Last year, around 120 new recruits including 25 girls were sent to Myanmar in two batches and they are still in that country. Several efforts were made to push them to Assam but only five or six could be sent.
Sources said that the break up of the cease fire pact with NSCN (K) would also affect the movement of the militants from Myanmar. All the militant outfits of North East are using the facilities of NSCN (K). Taking advantage of the cease-fire agreement, the NSKN(K) ultras used to help other militants to move into India along with their cadres. But now the militants will not have that advantage, sources pointed out.
