India, Myanmar conduct joint operation to destroy militant camps in Northeast

New Delhi: The armies of India and Myanmar carried out a three-week-long coordinated operation from May 16 in their respective border areas, targeting several militant groups operating in Manipur, Nagaland and Assam, defence sources said on Sunday.

The first phase of “Operation Sunrise” was conducted three months ago along the Indo-Myanmar border, during which a number of camps of north-east-based militant groups were busted.

Myanmar is one of the strategic neighbours of India and shares a 1,640-km border with a number of north-eastern states, including the militancy-hit Nagaland and Manipur.

Sources said during “Operation Sunrise 2”, the armies coordinated with each other to bust camps of militant outfits, including the Kamtapur Liberation Organisation, the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang), the United Liberation Front of Assam (I) and the National Democratic Front of Boroland.

They said at least six dozen militants belonging to these groups were nabbed and several of their camps were destroyed during the operation, adding that the two sides might launch the third phase of the operation, depending on intelligence inputs and the ground situation. According to security agencies, there were over 50 camps of insurgent groups from the north-east in Myanmar till 2018.

Besides the Indian Army, troops from the Assam Rifles were also a part of the operation.

In June 2015, the Indian Army had carried out an operation against NSCN(K) militants in areas near the Indo-Myanmar border, days after militants killed 18 army personnel in Manipur.

In the first phase of “Operation Sunrise”, the Indian Army targeted members of the Arakan Army, an insurgent group in Myanmar, who were opposed to the Kaladan multi-modal transit transport project. The project is viewed as India’s gateway to Southeast Asia.

On the Indian side, work is on to extend the Aizawl-Saiha National Highway by 90 kilometers to the international border at Zorinpui.