GUWAHATI, July 1 � The police and security forces involved in counter-insurgency operations in Assam have been kept on the alert following reports that the United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent) and the Songbijit faction of the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) are under pressure from other militant groups of the region to show their strength.
Security sources told The Assam Tribune that after the formation of the common platform of four militant groups of the North-east in Myanmar, it was decided that the constituent organisations would show their strength in their respective areas. Accordingly, the NSCN(K) has been able to show its strength by ambushing Army personnel. The KYKL, which has not yet formally joined the new platform, but is maintaining close ties with its constituents, was also involved in the ambush in Chandel district of Manipur.
But as the ULFA(I) and the NDFB(S) have not been able to indulge in any kind of violence in their respective areas, they are under pressure from the other constituents of the platform. ULFA(I) commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah reportedly called up a number of senior cadres and asked them to ambush security forces to show the outfit�s strength.
Sources said intercepts by the security agencies clearly indicated the desperation of the outfit and according to information gathered by the security forces, at least four ULFA(I) militants managed to sneak into the State. However, the ULFA(I) does not have adequate trained manpower.
Same is the situation with the NDFB(S) as the senior leaders of the outfit, who are in Assam, are on the run because of pressure from the security forces and they are not in a position to indulge in any major act of violence.
Sources said that both the ULFA(I) and NDFB(S) are also facing problems in pushing in militants from Myanmar following the withdrawal of the NSCN(K) from the ceasefire agreement with the Government of India. When the NSCN(K) was under cease-fire agreement, the cadres of the outfit helped the ULFA(I) and NDFB(S) cadres to cross over the international border, but the situation has now changed, sources added.
