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Change in power may help NE militants
R Dutta choudhury
The Assam Tribune Online
GUWAHATI, Oct 12 With general elections in Bangladesh due next year, the security agencies are apprehensive that the militant groups of the North East may try to re-establish bases in the neighbouring country if a government, which is not very friendly to India, assumes office in that country.
Highly placed security sources told The Assam Tribune that despite crackdown launched by the Sheikh Hasina Government in Bangladesh, some militant groups of the North East still have their bases in that country, but most of the bases are in Bangladesh-Myanmar areas.
Sources revealed that according to information available with the security agencies, hardcore member of the hardline faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), Drishti Rajkhowa visits Bangladesh often whenever the security forces mount pressure on him in Garo Hills of Meghalaya, where he mostly stays.
The security agencies of India have already handed over photo of Rajkhowa along with his possible locations to the Bangladesh authorities but till date, he could not be apprehended. Whenever he visits Bangladesh, Rajkhowa mostly stays in villages in Sherpur area and as he does not stay in any particular camp or house, the security forces of Bangladesh have not been able to nail him.
Sources pointed out that Rajkhowa is the mastermind of the operations of the activities of the hardline faction of the ULFA, not only in Lower Assam districts but also in Guwahati city and members of his group is reported to be involved in the recent grenade attack on CRPF personnel in the Paltanbazar area of Guwahati.
Security sources said that apart from Rajkhowa, several other members of the hardline faction of the ULFA are staying in Sherpur area of Bangladesh but they are not staying in any camp. Majority of the ULFA men, who are still in Bangladesh, are staying in villages along with family members and it is difficult for the security forces of Bangladesh to nab them without pinpointed information.
Sources disclosed that a number of other militant groups of the North East have bases in The Chittagong Hill Tracts area of Bangladesh and the area bordering Myanmar from where they can easily go to Myanmar if any offensive is launched against them. Both factions of the NSCN, Manipur based groups, ATTF and NLFT of Tripura etc have bases in those areas. Though the Government of India has informed Bangladesh about the presence of militants in those areas, the terrain puts the militants in an advantageous position.
Sources pointed out that the present Government in Bangladesh played a key role in controlling violence in North East region as a number of militant leaders of the outfits of the region including the Chairman of ULFA, Arabinda Rajkhowa, NDFB (R ) Chairman Ranjan Daimary and UNLF chairman were nabbed by Bangladesh authorities and handed over to India. But if a government not friendly to India comes to power in the ensuing polls in Bangladesh, the possibility of the militant groups re-establishing their bases in that country cannot be ruled out as during the tenure of the previous regime, the militant groups used the territory of Bangladesh as safe haven to carry out anti-India activities.
R Dutta choudhury
The Assam Tribune Online
GUWAHATI, Oct 12 With general elections in Bangladesh due next year, the security agencies are apprehensive that the militant groups of the North East may try to re-establish bases in the neighbouring country if a government, which is not very friendly to India, assumes office in that country.
Highly placed security sources told The Assam Tribune that despite crackdown launched by the Sheikh Hasina Government in Bangladesh, some militant groups of the North East still have their bases in that country, but most of the bases are in Bangladesh-Myanmar areas.
Sources revealed that according to information available with the security agencies, hardcore member of the hardline faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), Drishti Rajkhowa visits Bangladesh often whenever the security forces mount pressure on him in Garo Hills of Meghalaya, where he mostly stays.
The security agencies of India have already handed over photo of Rajkhowa along with his possible locations to the Bangladesh authorities but till date, he could not be apprehended. Whenever he visits Bangladesh, Rajkhowa mostly stays in villages in Sherpur area and as he does not stay in any particular camp or house, the security forces of Bangladesh have not been able to nail him.
Sources pointed out that Rajkhowa is the mastermind of the operations of the activities of the hardline faction of the ULFA, not only in Lower Assam districts but also in Guwahati city and members of his group is reported to be involved in the recent grenade attack on CRPF personnel in the Paltanbazar area of Guwahati.
Security sources said that apart from Rajkhowa, several other members of the hardline faction of the ULFA are staying in Sherpur area of Bangladesh but they are not staying in any camp. Majority of the ULFA men, who are still in Bangladesh, are staying in villages along with family members and it is difficult for the security forces of Bangladesh to nab them without pinpointed information.
Sources disclosed that a number of other militant groups of the North East have bases in The Chittagong Hill Tracts area of Bangladesh and the area bordering Myanmar from where they can easily go to Myanmar if any offensive is launched against them. Both factions of the NSCN, Manipur based groups, ATTF and NLFT of Tripura etc have bases in those areas. Though the Government of India has informed Bangladesh about the presence of militants in those areas, the terrain puts the militants in an advantageous position.
Sources pointed out that the present Government in Bangladesh played a key role in controlling violence in North East region as a number of militant leaders of the outfits of the region including the Chairman of ULFA, Arabinda Rajkhowa, NDFB (R ) Chairman Ranjan Daimary and UNLF chairman were nabbed by Bangladesh authorities and handed over to India. But if a government not friendly to India comes to power in the ensuing polls in Bangladesh, the possibility of the militant groups re-establishing their bases in that country cannot be ruled out as during the tenure of the previous regime, the militant groups used the territory of Bangladesh as safe haven to carry out anti-India activities.
