DIMAPUR/IMPHAL, April 22 � The stand off between the Assam Rifles and the NSCN-IM completed four days today with no sign of easing and has spread to Manipur.
The current quagmire was triggered by the Thursday incident where the NSCN-IM had detained five Assam Rifles jawans after snatching their weapons. The Assam Rifles personnel traveling in a truck allegedly �trespassed� into Hebron Camp area violating the ceasefire ground rules which prompted the Naga militants to act, a source said.
On Friday, about 200 jawans of Assam Rifles placed themselves in all the approach roads to Hebron Camp, off Dimapur and conducted intense frisking. Four senior NSCN-IM leaders were detained for the whole day and released in the evening by the Assam Rifles. They were heading for Hebron Camp for a meeting, according to the source.
In Manipur, security forces personnel in large numbers have been rushed to the vicinity of NSCN-IM designated camps as a pre-emptive move. Sources said that personnel of 10th Dogra Regiment are carrying out intense patrolling near the NP Battalion of the NSCN-IM designated camp at Piulong (Buning) near Tamei in Tamenglong district while personnel of Assam Rifles are doing the same at Hothrong Brigade of the Naga outfit near Oklong in Senapati district and in Chandel district.
A source said that Kishumung Battalion of the NSCN-IM in Ukhrul district is also facing similar �provocation� from the Assam Rifles.
A separate source said that chairman of the Cease Fire Monitoring Group (CFMG), government of India Maj Gen (retired) N George is camping in Dimapur to diffuse the highly charged situation.
Meanwhile, weapons of the Assam Rifles personnel confiscated by the NSCN-IM are yet to be returned, according to sources.
