North-east militants tap in forest routes used by wildlife smugglers

ULTAPANI: For the security forces battling insurgency in the North East, the toughest part is to carry out operations deep inside thick forest where the threat of an ambush is the highest. Last month, when a camp of NDFB (S) was busted in Ultapani near Kokrajhar, the joint team started on foot at 2.30 am and walked 40 km inside the unfriendly terrain to reach the spot by 8.30 am. These 40 forest reserves, mostly in border areas, are the new haven for North East insurgent groups, Army officials said.

IG (BTAD) LR Bishnoi told ET, “We have been stressing on anti-encroachment drive in the forest areas, breaking of arms supply and financial support.” In past five months, Assam police along with other agencies claimed to have arrested more than 300 cadres of NDFB (S) the group which is also part of the United National Liberation Front of Wesea (UNLFW) which claimed responsibility for killing 18 Army jawans in Manipur on Thursday.

Beside being aware about the topography of the forest, militants take advantage of ‘rides’ which are considered to be the lifeline for them in the thick forest, says an Assam police official. A ‘ ride’ is the name given by forest department to the routes which are walkable and are frequently used by wildlife smugglers and poachers.

“It is very difficult for us to locate a militant camp deep inside deep inside the jungle and many a times the operation gets marred due to this difficult terrain,” said Sunil Kumar, SP Kokrajhar. To locate a single camp of extremist it takes months as it happened when they busted the Ultapani camp.

What further complicates the operation all along the India-Bhutan and India-Myanmar border is the mobile connectivity.