GUWAHATI, Nov 22 � The Government of India has not been able to take up the issue of militant groups of North East receiving help from some persons in China forcefully with the Chinese Government because of lack of �conclusive documentary evidence�. Though the issue was raised from time to time in different levels, the Chinese authorities always denied the allegations, highly placed official sources said.
Sources told The Assam Tribune that the Government of India is well aware of the fact that the commander in chief of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), Paresh Baruah frequently visited China over the years. According to intelligence inputs, Baruah even received a Chinese visa once. "But the Government of India does not have conclusive documentary evidence to prove the fact and the Chinese Government can always deny the reports as Baruah did not travel in his own name," sources pointed out.
Sources said that on the issue of Baruah receiving Chinese visa, there is also scope for the Government of China to deny it as the visa was received with the Bangladeshi passport used by the ULFA leader.
Interestingly, the security agencies are not aware of the present whereabouts of the ULFA commander-in-chief and it is believed that he is still in China or in the area bordering China and Myanmar. Sources said that Baruah is not in a position to visit Bangladesh after he was named as one of the accused in the 2004 arms haul case and though a few months back, the security forces had definite information about his presence in the Yunan province of China, his present location is not yet known.
Meanwhile, official sources revealed that it is now an established fact that the militant groups of North East have been receiving weapons manufactured by the ordnance factories of China, but in this case also, it is difficult to prove involvement of any official of the Government of China.
Sources said that according to information available, the weapons dumped by the Chinese army as the part of its modernization move are available with the clandestine arms dealers and the militant groups of North East mostly procure weapons from such dealers. Senior NSCN (I-M) leader, Anthony Shimrey, who was arrested recently by the National Investigating Agency (NIA), also visited China a number of times to procure weapons as he is allegedly involved in supply of weapons to a number of militant groups of North East. Shimrey, during questioning by the NIA, also admitted that he had arranged for weapons for the ULFA on several occasions.
Sources pointed out that the weapons manufactured by the Indian ordnance factories are sold to private persons having arms licences but if any such weapon is found to be used by any anti-national element, the Government of India cannot be blamed for that. Similarly, the Government of China cannot be held responsible for use of weapons manufactured by Chinese ordnance factories till involvement of any official in supply of same can be proved, sources added.
