New Delhi : Outfits are getting weapons to fight India, intelligence dossier quotes NSA
With China taking “intrusive interest” in the developments of the Northeast, seven Meitei outfits of Manipur, backed by NSCN-K, in July this year formed United Front, which had been backed by China for a while now.
“These outfits (of the Northeast) were getting supply of weapons from China, which was a matter of serious concern. India’s success in Bangladesh had given an opportunity to China to deal with these outfits at one place in Myanmar and use them against India,” a classified intelligence dossier quotes National Security Advisor (NSA) Shiv Shankar Menon as having said at a closed door session of top security officials here recently.
The NSA also raised concern over China’s involvement in India's neighbourhood saying, “The activity and presence of China in neighbouring countries had adverse security implications for India.”
After India’s successful operations against insurgent groups in Bangladesh, the insurgents have moved to Myanmar. The Border Security Force, meanwhile, has moved a proposal to raise 45 battalions (45,000 men and officers) to guard the Indo-Myanmar border and take over the role from Assam Rifles.
China is involved in construction of roads, buildings and in providing food aid in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. China has also increased its presence in Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka for infrastructure development, such as building of roads.
There are also reports of Chinese intelligence and Pakistan’s ISI visiting Taka area in Myanmar.
According to intelligence inputs, recently ULFA’s anti-talks faction led by Paresh Barua, People’s Liberation Army of Manipur, Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL), Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang faction) (NSCN-K) and United National Liberation Front (UNLF) came together on the advice of China to form a United Front.
“The formation of United Front by the Meitei underground groups has become a cause of concern for Government agencies,” says the dossier.
Notwithstanding peace initiatives with NSCN/IM, a faction of ULFA, and Ranjan Daimary faction of National Democratic Front of Bodoland, certain Naga groups, are demanding change in administrative arrangements in Hill areas of Manipur. They are also attempting to disturb peace in Upper Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
The anti-talks faction of ULFA, according to the report, remained engaged in subversive activities and is trying to strengthen its military capabilities. The NDFB has been able to establish its presence in Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Nepal and Bangladesh. However, the Ranjan Daimary faction of NDFB has declared unilateral ceasefire despite being the most violent insurgent group in 2010.
Continued presence of Northeast insurgents in Bangladesh and Myanmar and “intrusive interests by the Chinese in the developments in the Northeast” remain major challenges for the security agencies in tackling insurgency in the Northeast and a justification of the continued presence of security forces in the region.
Other concerns on the Northeast front include increase in ethnic clashes and growth of Adivasi militia groups on account of perceived discrimination further makes the situation volatile in this part of the country.
Another worrying development has been the recent efforts by the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) to make a foray into Upper Assam areas.
Insurgent groups operating in Meghalaya find safe havens in Sherpur and Mymensing districts of Bangladesh. Although there are no indigenous insurgent groups in Arunachal Pradesh, the anti-talks factions of NDFB and ULFA use Tirap and Changlang districts as shelter for transiting to Myanmar. These districts have also witnessed factional strife between NSCN-K and NSCN-IM.
While Meitei and Naga insurgent groups were active in Myanmar, Nepal continued to be used as sanctuary by the Meitei underground groups and the NDFB (Ranjan Daimary faction). Both ULFA and NDFB maintain training centres and temporary shelters in Bangladesh.
China being a major economic and military power has presence in India's neighbouring countries, raising concern within the security establishment.
The report also says that cyber threat from the Chinese had increased, and India needed to be careful about protecting her cyber networks from Chinese hackers.
The prime target of such cyber attacks are security-related institutions like the National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID), Multi-Agency Centre (MAC) and National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC).
The report pointed out that India was not well networked at present, which reduced the chances of cyber attacks. However, with the development of NATGRID, MAC and NCTC, the risks would increase.