GUWAHATI, March 14 – Under pressure from the security forces in its strongholds, the Maoist rebel groups have started to make attempts to extend helping hand to different militant groups including those in the North East region to divert the attention of the security forces.

Highly placed security sources told The Assam Tribune that with the security forces launching a massive crackdown on the Maoist rebel groups in the traditional strongholds of the organizations and the leaders are on the run and several of them have been nabbed. Under the circumstances, the Maoist groups are keen on extending support to other militant groups and sent feelers to other groups with the motto “let us grow together”.

Sources pointed out that the interrogation reports of the Maoist rebel leaders arrested in recent past also indicated the game plan of the groups to extend cooperation to other militant groups of the country. The main aim of the Maoists is to divert the attention of the Government and security forces. The Maoists are of the view that if other militant groups become strong, the pressure mounted by the security forces against them would be eased to a great extent and the Government of India would not be in a position to concentrate only against the Maoists. Sources also admitted that if the Maoist groups succeed in their strategy, the Government would have a tough time as the forces available would have to be redeployed wherever necessary.

Though the Maoist groups are yet to establish strong foot hold in the North East region, security sources said that the police forces of the region as well as the security forces engaged in counter-insurgency operations must keep a close watch on the situation to prevent growth of Maoists in the region, which is already hit by insurgency. The Maoist groups may also try to use the region as a hideout for their leaders as the police and security forces are not in the look out for them in the NE, sources pointed out.

The Maoists have already tried to establish links with the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) as such a move would be beneficial for both sides. The ULFA is facing problems after the crackdown in Bangladesh and help from the Maoists can be beneficial for the outfit, while, on the other hand, the ULFA has abundance of sophisticated weapons, which the Maoist groups can use. “According to intelligence inputs, the ULFA still has more weapons than the number of cadres trained to use the same, while, on the other hand, the Maoist rebel groups have no shortage of manpower to use weapons. That is why, strong links between ULFA and Maoists can be beneficial for both sides,” sources said.

Intelligence inputs also indicated links between Maoists and members of the NSCN (I-M) and sources said that the Maoist rebels received training from trained members of the Naga militant groups despite the fact that the NSCN is under cease-fire agreement with the Government of India. The Maoists have also signed an agreement with the Revolutionary People’s Front of Manipur to extend cooperation to each other.