GUWAHATI, June 23 � The movement of militants, particularly those belonging to the hardline faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) along the Indo-Myanmar border has come down in recent times, while, the Centre has provided funds to the Government of Arunachal Pradesh to strengthen its own police force in the districts of Tirap and Changlang to launch offensive against the militants.
Highly-placed security sources told The Assam Tribune that the deterioration of the weather makes the entry routes to India from Myanmar more difficult, as a result of which, the movement of militants has come down in recent times. On the other hand, the weather also prevented the security forces from launching full scale operations in Tirap and Changlang districts of Arunachal Pradesh despite the fact that additional Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel have been deployed in the area to restrict the movement of ultras.
Sources said that the inter-factional clash between members of the NSCN(IM) and NSCN (K) also restricted the movement of the ULFA cadres from Myanmar as they are not keen on getting caught in the clashes. Sources admitted that inter-factional clashes between NSCN to increase area of domination in Tirap and Changlang has become a major cause of concern for the security forces engaged in the operations in that area while, incessant rains also made the remote parts inaccessible.
The Government of India is keen on assisting the Government of Arunachal Pradesh to strengthen its own police force, particularly in Tirap and Changlang as different militant groups have established their bases in that area by taking advantage of lack of adequate security cover, while, the militants are also using routes through the area to come down from their camps in Myanmar.
The process of recruitment of around 1500 police personnel exclusively for the area has started and the Centre has provided the funds for the same.
Meanwhile, intercepts of recent communications by the leaders of the ULFA indicated that the outfit is facing shortage of medicine in the camps in Myanmar and the cadres in Assam have been directed to try and send medicines, particularly anti-malaria medicines as soon as possible.
