GUWAHATI, Feb 7 � The ambush on a team of the Assam Rifles in Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh yesterday once again proved the strong presence of militants in the area, which is adjacent to the international border with Myanmar. However, the identity of the militant group involved in the attack is yet to be ascertained and no outfit has so far claimed responsibility for the same.
Highly placed security sources told The Assam Tribune that a patrol party of the Assam Rifles was ambushed at Mengmou in Changlang district, close to the international border with Myanmar. Nine Assam Rifles personnel were injured in the ambush and one of them later succumbed to his injuries. The Assam Rifles man killed in the ambush has been identified as Rifleman Dattatray Mahajan. Two porters, engaged by the Assam Rifles, were also killed in the incident.
Sources pointed out that three districts of Arunachal Pradesh � Tirap, Changlang and Longding � have already been declared as Disturbed Areas and the Army and security personnel are involved in counter-insurgency operations in the area.
Sources also said that though Arunachal Pradesh is a comparatively peaceful State compared to Assam and Manipur, militants of other states often use the territory of that state as a safe sanctuary and because of their proximity to Myanmar, where most of the militant groups of Assam still have strong bases, Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts are often frequented by the ultras.
The Government of India is well aware of the movements of militants through that area and even in the notification of declaring those three districts as Disturbed Areas, the Ministry of Home Affairs cited the activities of the militant groups. Sources admitted that both factions of the NSCN have their bases in the area and the members of the outfit also indulge in extortions, while inter-factional clashes between the outfits are also a major problem for the locals. There were instances where the NSCN members and other militant groups forced the locals of the area to work for them.
On the other hand, the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) has always used the area as a corridor to move to its bases in Myanmar. After the division in the ranks of the outfit, the hardline ULFA (Independent) is still using the area as a corridor.
Members of Manipur-based militant groups also use the area as a transit route.
The Army and other Central forces have already launched an offensive against militants in the area and the operations are likely to be intensified after the ambush yesterday, sources added.
