GUWAHATI, May 22 � The Maoist rebels have not only established bases in Assam, but they are also established contacts with militant groups of the North East. The most disturbing fact is that a number of transactions of weapons took place between the Maoist groups and the People�s Liberation Army (PLA) took place in different parts of Assam including in Guwahati city. This fact came to light during an investigation by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on the links between the Maoists and the PLA.
Most of the transactions of weapons took place in Dimapur, while, some transactions also took place in other parts of the country. Guwahati has become a transit point for the members of different militant groups of the North East region and in recent months, a number of members of the Manipur based militant groups were arrested in the city. The militants of the North East normally come to Guwahati for shelter and to go to other parts of the country, while, some even came for treatment. However, the recent NIA investigation proved that some arms transactions between the militants also took place in the city.
Growing links between the Maoist rebels and insurgent outfits of North East region came to the fore yet again with the NIA filing a charge sheet against three members of Manipur based militant outfit People�s Liberation Army (PLA) for supplying weapons to the Maoists.
The PLA has been giving training to the Maoist rebels in different parts of the country, while, the Manipur based outfit is also supplying sophisticated weapons to the Maoist rebels. Sources told The Assam Tribune that further investigation into the links between PLA and Maoists is on all over the country and the possibility of further arrests in the case cannot be ruled out. The NIA is also trying to bring Maoist leaders involved in such links behind the bars.
The NIA filed charge sheet against N Dilip Singh alias Wangba, the self styled chief of the Foreign and External Affairs Department of the PLA, Senjam Dhiren Singh alias Raghu and Arnold Singh, who was the main linkman of the PLA and Maoists based in Kolkata.
Giving details of the links between the PLA and Maoists, NIA sources said that the PLA cadres extended help to the Maoist rebels to wage war against the state. The NIA registered a case on July 11 last year on the nexus between the PLA and Maoists and the investigation revealed that in June, 2006, the PLA leaders met the top leaders of the Maoists, which was followed by several rounds of meetings in the next two years before signing of a formal agreement between the two groups in a foreign country.
Immediately after the first meeting in 2006, the PLA established an office in Kolkata for coordinating the activities of the outfits in procurement of arms and ammunition and explosive devices. Sources said that the meeting in which the joint declaration was signed in 2008, was presided over by PLA chief I Chaoren. In the meeting, the Maoists requested the PLA to provide sophisticated weapons, while, on its part, PLA sought ammonium nitrate to be used as explosives.
Sources said that as a part of the scheme, the Maoists have been sending money to the PLA from time to time for supply of arms and ammunition and communication devices. The PLA office in Kolkata played the major role in transaction of money and coordinating the activities of both the outfits. Hardcore militant Arnold, who was looking after the Kolkata office of the PLA, was arrested in Siliguri on April 2 last.
