GUWAHATI, May 8 - A substantial number of militants belonging to the United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent) and National Democratic Front of Boroland (S), who are facing severe hardship in Myanmar, are looking for opportunities to come over ground, while, fresh recruitment by the militant outfits have almost stopped in recent times after the Myanmar Army took control over the area where the militants were camping.
Police sources told The Assam Tribune that the militants are scattered after the Myanmar Army took over the camps of the militant outfits and they are mostly staying in the Naga villages in the area, while, some are staying in makeshift camps in the jungles. Police and security forces managed come to know of the details of the problems faced by the militants from the ultras who recently laid down arms and it is obvious that life has become miserable for all the ultras after their camps were taken over.
Sources said that even survival has become a major problem for the ultras in Myanmar and they have to collect rice from the villagers to eat, while, there is severe shortage of other stuff. Within the last couple of months since Myanmar Army launched the offensive after persistent request from the Government of India, at least 20 important members of the ULFA(I) and NDFB(S) surrendered. Those who laid down arms included some important members of the outfits including the foreign secretary of NDFB(S).
Sources said that from the surrendered militants, the police and security agencies came to know that a number of militants are keen on coming over to surrender, but they have problems in doing so. To come back to India, the militants have to come through Naga villages, which have supporters and sympathizers of the NSCN(K) and there have been instances where militants were apprehended in those villages while making attempts to come over. Recently, four militants were executed by the militant groups when they tried to desert, while, the total number of such people killed since 2013 is around 20.
The ULFA(I) members who came over recently, said that they used to plant vegetables near the camps, but they lost their cultivations when the camps were taken over. The ULFA(I) members also buried sacks of rice within ten kilometre radius of the camps to be used in tough situation and they managed to dig out some sacks after the camps were taken over and some small groups managed to sustain with that for some time.
Police sources admitted that the ULFA(I) had launched a drive for fresh recruitment when the agitation against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill was at its peak and some boys joined the outfit. The new batch had just reached Myanmar camps when the crackdown was launched against the ultras. There has been no report of any fresh recruitment in the last couple of months, sources added.
