TODAY -
25,000 rebels, armed & deadly
Nagaland Post | New Delhi, Oct 17 (Agencies)
Manipur perhaps has as many militant groups as ethnic communities. An exact count is unavailable with the government because new ones mushroom or existing ones splinter nearly every month.
An "estimated" 35 militant groups operate in the state that has a long history of militancy. Inspired by the Naga insurgency, some Meitei youths under the leadership of the legendary Hijam Irabot, a communist leader, formed the Manipur Red Guard in the early 1950s, but this failed to gather mass support, TNN reports said.
The first potent outfit was the United National Liberation Front (UNLF) formed by some followers of Irabot in 1964. Its primary aim is to restore the pre-British supremacy of the Meiteis as a reaction to Naga insurgency.
Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and the Kuki National Army (KNA) were formed to demand a separate Kuki district and to protect Kukis from the Naga onslaught.
The Nagas in the hills have the two factions-- National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN), one led by Isak Chisi Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah and the other by Khaplang. And then there are the Kom Rem People's Convention, Zomi Revolutionary Volunteers, Hmar People's Convention and many small outfits.
According to Times News reports, put together there are about 25,000 armed rebels in Manipur and extortion remains their mainstay. Most of them possess sophisticated weapons obtained mainly from China and Southeast Asia.
But insurgency-related violence has fallen: last year, 134 people (103 insurgents, seven securitymen, 24 civilians) lost their lives against 416 (321 militants, 77 civilians, 18 securitymen ) in 2009. Public support to the rebels has also declined.
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* This Post is uploaded on October 18 2011
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