Northeast On Alert, Rebels Plan Revenge Attacks

NEW DELHI: The northeastern states, particularly Nagaland, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam have been put on high alert in the wake of intelligence intercepts revealing possible retaliatory attacks from the militant groups and the reported crossing over of 15-20 cadres of NSCN-K and allied groups from the Myanmar border into the Indian soil.

Army units and the security forces deployed in the region were asked to remain on high alert. Intelligence agencies have intercepted that the NSCN-K, along with allied groups like ULFA and PLA have planned revenge strikes on the security forces and the Army. As per the intelligence report, over 20 ultras may even have crossed cross from Myanmar terror camps to the Indian territory.

A high level meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh was held on Thursday to take stock of the situation in the aftermath of Tuesday’s operation in Myanmar by the Indian special forces. The intelligence reports and intercepts indicating the possible revenge attacks by the insurgent groups was taken into account in this meeting.

The meeting , attended by Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar , National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and vice-chief of Army Lt Gen Philip Campos among others expressed “satisfaction” with Tuesday’s operation and acknowledged that this hot pursuit was a “game changer” in dealing with the northeast insurgent groups.

Further, the government reportedly cautioned the officials and ministers while talking about the operation in Myanmar, considering the sensitivities involved particularly now that the general elections are due in the country.