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North East - Maoist threat : Alert in three states |
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The Maoist revolution in the Indian sub-continent which has already engulfed the Himalayan Kingdom of Nepal and has disturbed peace in several Indian states, is now spreading to the insurgency-prone north-east region of the country where the Government of India has declared alert in the states of Assam, Meghalaya and Tripura. The Maoists’ threat, according to official assessment, is more real and closer home.
According to reports, the Centre has alerted these states about the ‘real possibility’ of militant organisations here forging ties with the nascent Bhutan Communist Party (Marxist-Leninist-Maoist) and the Purba Banglar Communist Party (Marxist-Leninist)’s Red Flag faction.
To add to the concerns of the security establishment, this year’s annual conference of the Coordination Committee of Maoist Parties and Organisations in South Asia will be held somewhere along the Indo-Bangla border later this month.
At least 50 top Maoist leaders from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal and other parts of South Asia will attend the 11-day fourth conference of the committee where they are tipped to discuss ways and means of expanding its network in the region, sources said.
Nepali Maoist leader Puspa Kamal Dahal, more popularly known as Comrade Prachanda, is among the top leaders expected to attend the meeting.
‘It is not clear whether this meeting will be held in Bangladesh or India, but given the fact that the third meeting of the committee was held in Jharkhand, we have to be alert about use of Indian territory once again for the meeting,’ a source said.
Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi recently pointed an accusing finger at Maoist Red Army for the orgy of violence in Karbi Anglong as Dispur admitted to the growing threat posed by the Maoist rebels to the state.
The formation of the Bhutan Communist Party (MLM) with its avowed policy to ‘smash’ the monarchy in Bhutan was also of concern for the security agencies as militant organisations like ULFA, National Democratic Front of Bodoland and Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO) are sore with the monarchy for razing its 30-odd camps during Operation All Clear in December 2003.
The sources said the ULFA and the KLO imparted week-long training in explosives handling and guerrilla warfare to nearly 150 activists of the Bhutan Communist Party (MLM) at the initiative of the Red Flag a few months back.
‘The Bhutan Communist Party (MLM) could again turn Bhutan’s territory along the Indian border into a safe sanctuary for the militants if security forces do not address the threat immediately,’ he said.
Quoting from a statement of the Bhutan Communist Party (MLM) signed by the general secretary of its central organising committee, one Vikalpa (likely to be an alias), the source said apart from waging ‘war’ against the Wangchuk dynasty that is ruling the Himalayan kingdom for over 95 years, the organisation was also campaigning against what it called Indian ‘expansionist policy’ and ‘Sikkimisation’ of Bhutan.
Assam inspector-general of police (special branch) Khagen Sarma, while not willing to comment on the development, admitted, however, that ULFA was maintaining relations with the Maoist outfits.
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