In an operation led by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, a total of 22 militants from North East India, including top UNLF and NDFB commanders were handed over to India on May 15
-NJ Thakuria
Representative Image (Image Credit: Sangbad Pratidin)
Guwahati: Signaling a new hope for trusted friendship between Bharat and Myanmar, the federal government in NayPieTaw recently handed over 22 members of various armed outfits from the North-east.
All the insurgents were apprehended by Myanmar security forces from Sagaing locality and extradited following the successful persuasion by the National Security Adviser Ajit Doval.
A special flight carrying the groups of insurgents belonged to United National Liberation Front (UNLF), People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK-Pro), Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL), People’s Liberation Army (PLA), National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB-S) and Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO) reached Imphal on May 14 and disembarked 12 rebels. Later it came to Guwahati to hand over 10 rebels to Assam police.
Recognised as the first of its kind gesture by Myanmar military Tatmadaw, the Ajit Doval supervised operation resulted in bringing back most-wanted militant leaders like Peshuram Lesharam (PREPAK-Pro), Santomba Ningthaujam (UNLF), Rajen Daimary & Satsuma Basumatary (NDFB-S) etc. It merely signifies the enhanced defence and intelligence ties for both the neighbouring countries.
It may be noted that most of the north-eastern militants, after losing their bases in Bhutan and Bangladesh took shelter in Myanmar. They also run their training centres inside Myanmarese jungles adjacent to the China border. Fugitive Paresh Barua, who leads United Liberation Front of Assam (Independent), is understood as taking shelter in such a locality.
Following the COVID-19 protocol amidst nationwide lockdown, all Manipur militants were taken to a quarantine centre in the State capital after taking their samples for screening. Rebels from Assam have been taken to a Guwahati hotel for the necessary isolation and their samples were taken to test for novel coronavirus infection.
