Guwahati, February 09: Union Home secretary G.K Pillai said that New Delhi has asked Myanmar to help capture or flush out the militants of India’s North-East, in particular elusive ULFA military chief Paresh Barua.
“I was in Myanmar last month and we had some useful discussions. We are hopeful that Myanmar will launch an operation (against the militants) at the earliest,” Union Home Secretary G.K. Pillai informed journalists on the sidelines of the 58th meeting of the North Eastern Council in Guwahati today.
The Union Home secretary said the ULFA military chief was probably hiding somewhere along Kachin-China border. However, he could not specify the whereabouts of NDFB chief Ranjan Daimari. Daimari is wanted in a number of cases including the October 30, 2008 deadly serial bombings in Assam.
Reports said that a huge number of militants of India’s North-East are believed to be holed up in the Sagaing division of Myanmar. It is here the ULFA reportedly receives arms training from the Naga militants regularly.
The Union Home secretary said he had already taken up the matter with the two factions of National Socialist Council of Nagaland/Nagalim. Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi feels that the ULFA could be contained if its links with the Naga militants both within and outside the country could be snapped.
On being asked about peace talks with the ULFA, the Union Home Secretary said, “We’re in the process; working out strategies. (Our) recommendations will be submitted to the Home Minister. The Home Minister and the Chief Minister will then take the final decision (on how to go about for talks with the ULFA)”.
It is pertinent to note that ULFA chairman Rajkhowa who is in jail said recently that no talks to be held behind the bars. The ULFA leaders are determined not to talk with the government minus the sovereignty issue.
Hueiyen News Service
India asks Myanmar to flush out NE UG groups
