On the run, NE militants 'offer' Rs 2 lakh for capture of any Indian armyman

NEW DELHI: Even as militant outfits have shifted camps deep into Myanmar and the embarrassment faced by the neighboring nation due to chest thumping politicians ruling out joint operations in the near future, warnings have been sent to security personnel residing in north east states that they could be targeted, even while on leave to their homes. Over two weeks after the Indian Army targeted camps in Myanmar and killed over 20 militants, followed by raring comments by a set of over eager politicians, the fallout of the cross border action is becoming visible.

For starters, insurgent outfits like NSCN (K) have moved their camps and top commanders deep inside Myanmar territory, in some cases retreating as many as 70 km across the border. These militants include perpetrators of the June 4 Manipur attack in which 18 Indian Army soldiers were killed – its highest casualty in such an attack since 1993.



While the shifting of camps does provide a temporary buffer zone to India, the opinion is forming that the probability of an Indo-Myanmar joint operation to flush them out in the near future is very low. Besides the operational difficulties of targeting militants deep into enemy territory, the major cause seems to be the embarrassment faced by Myanmar after a very public chest thumping by Indian politicians.

Myanmar government sources say that Nay Pyi Taw is upset with Ministers and voices in Delhi speaking publicly about surgical strikes on their territory and along India-Myanmar border. Such remarks and statements have not only killed the covertness of the operation but also embarrassed Nay Pyi Taw, according to Myanmar government sources.

In fact, Nay Pyi Taw wants Delhi to go slow on joint operations for the time being, sources said.

“As per a reliable input from the R&AW, the insurgent groups have also decided to stay quiet for a month and not resort to any major action.

The main leaders of NSCN (K) are believed to be heading for the main camps inside Myanmar in Taga, which is a 70-kilometre aerial distance from the Indo-Myanmar border.

Myanmar has cited difficulties in any joint operations in this scenario as of now,” a Home Ministry official said.