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Myanmar yet to take any action against NE ultras

By R Dutta Choudhury

GUWAHATI, Oct 12 - Though the Government of Myanmar is yet to keep its word of taking strong action against the militants of North East States taking shelter in that country, life is not easy for the ultras in the neighbouring country, particularly for those belonging to the outfits of Assam, as the flow of funds has dried up.

Highly placed security sources told The Assam Tribune that the Government of Myanmar is yet to launch an offensive against the militants despite repeated promises. During his last visit to New Delhi, the Chief of the Myanmar Army had promised to strengthen the presence of the Army along the areas bordering India.

Sources said that according to inputs available with the security agencies, there was some movement of Myanmar Army personnel along the international border areas in the month of August. Though the Army personnel did not launch any operation, the movement created panic among the militants. The security agencies received some intercepts of communication of the militants, which proved that they were apprehensive of strong Army action and some militants even tried to shift weapons from the camps to comparatively safer places. But the additional troops sent to the bordering areas reportedly went back without launching any operation against the militants.

Meanwhile, sources said that life is not easy for the militants, particularly those belonging to the United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent) and the Songbijit faction of the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) as the outfits are facing severe financial crunch.

Security sources said that the ULFA(I) is making desperate attempts to launch extortion drive, particularly in the upper Assam districts. But the ultras are not getting enough funds to sustain in Myanmar. The people who received extortion notes from the ULFA(I) are not willing to pay the demanded amount any more, forcing the outfit to negotiate the amount and there were occasions where they were forced to accept even small amounts, sources added.

The situation is even worse for the NDFB (S) and the outfit has reportedly gone into heavy debt as the flow of funds has been totally squeezed. The main source of income of the outfit was kidnapping. But after the massive crackdown launched against the outfit in December last year, NDFB(S) was not being able to indulge in any kidnapping.

According to information available with the security agencies, at least 200 cadres of the NDFB (S) are staying in the camps in Myanmar, including two batches of new recruits. The outfit is not in a position to send them to Assam, while, the leaders are finding it tough to sustain the camps in Myanmar. Facing severe financial crunch, the NDFB (S) militants are now engaged in cultivation near the camps in Myanmar.

Sources, however, admitted that both ULFA(I) and NDFB (S) do not have shortage of weapons and they may resort to selling of arms and ammunition to other militant groups in near future.

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