Taking up the issue of the changing scenario in the region straddling the Northeast and Myanmar at a conference today, police chief and director of Intelligence Bureau, Nehchal Sandhu, formally mentioned Beijing’s involvement in the affairs of the Northeast.
“This conference will review the continuing presence of (Indian insurgent) groups in Myanmar and to some extent in Bangladesh and also in respect of fresh evidence of intrusive interest of the Chinese in the affairs of (insurgent) groups (in the Northeast),” Sandhu said in his welcome address at the conference of directors-general of police and inspectors-general of police here today.
He said the Northeast DGPs would meet to discuss the matter. Mandarins on Raisina Hill said they would take up the issue with China.
A written answer in the just-concluded monsoon session of Parliament had also mentioned insurgent groups hobnobbing with the Chinese but had left the answer ambiguous. Today, the indication was clear that Chinese officials do meddle in the region.
Unofficially, senior officials concede there are inputs from Myanmar and China about meetings between Manipur rebel groups and Paresh Barua with Chinese intelligence. “They may not want to annex parts of India but they feel it is in their interest to keep the region (Northeast) unstable,” an official said.
During the conference, national security adviser Shivshankar Menon is understood to have spoken about China’s position in India’s security calculus.
It has been found that Chinese operatives were meeting not just the Naga rebel group NSCN (Isak-Muivah) but also Assam’s Ulfa and other militants from Manipur and China is understood to have inspired the unity among the outfits.
Late last year, NSCN (K) leader S.S. Khaplang formed an umbrella organisation with PLA/RPF, United National Liberation Front (UNLF) and Ulfa with a command centre in western Sagaing division of Myanmar.
In July this year, top leaders of seven groups from Manipur valley issued a joint statement announcing formation of a coordination committee to work towards a united front. It will be led by PLA president Irengbam Chaoren.
“In Manipur, a united front of seven Meitei underground groups has been formed,” Union home minister P. Chidambaram said in his inaugural address to the conference.
Seven leaders, Ksh Laba Meitei, president of Kangleipak Communist Party, I. Chaoren, president of the Revolutionary People’s Front, N. Oken, general secretary of the Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup, Kh Pambei, acting chairman of UNLF, N. Nongdrenkhomba, chairman of Prepak, Langamba Luwang chairman of United People’s Party of Kangleipak and L. Paliba the chairman of Prepak (Pro) signed the pact.