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Terror Networks
India to clean house in Manipur
2002-02-16
  • The BSF on Saturday sent troops to remote areas in Manipur to drive out guerrillas threatening to disrupt ongoing elections. "I've sent my ground forces to free Chakpikarong and Sajik Tampak areas of Chandel district from rebels who are holding the area for quite some time," P K Mishra, deputy inspector general of the Border Security Force said in Imphal.

    More than 300 guerrillas armed with weapons, including anti-aircraft guns, and had threatened to disrupt voting in the area. Mishra said ground troops backed by helicopters had moved towards guerrilla strongholds in the thickly-forested mountains. "By this evening, we hope to drive the militants out and dominate the area with Indian forces. Before that I am expecting some heavy gun battles."

    Chandel, which borders Myanmar, is about 75 km south of Imphal. Armed groups such as the Peoples Liberation Army, United National Liberation Front, Peoples Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak and National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Issak-Muivah) faction have set up training and base camps there.
    Sometimes it seems like you can't throw a rock in India without hitting either a jihadi or a member of some other kind of "People's Liberation Front." Sheesh. "National Socialist Council of Nagaland"? I shudder to think.
    What you've picked up on are two problems the Indians have:
    a. Kashmir isn't their only ethnic separatist problem, and New Delhi ain't gonna let Kashmir go as then Assam and Nagaland and perhaps some Tamil area starts getting some big idea that they want to separate also.
    b. If you have all your troops on the Pakistani border, who's watching the Burmese loonies or the Bengal Muslims? I'm sure the Indian Army is pulling out their military records dating back to the Raj concerning putting out several fires at one time. Where's a Clive when you need one?
    Posted by Tom Roberts 2/16/2002 2:33:31 PM
    • Posted by:Fred Pruitt

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