Demonetisation hits insurgent groups
Source: The Sangai Express / The Assam Tribune

Guwahati, December 17 2016: Demonetization has not only had an adverse impact on the common people but as always insurgency which has always been a business, it has taken the brunt of the impact.

Majority of the outfits in the North Eastern region has lost a substantial amount of cash as security agencies are watching like a hawk on the situation and trying to find out if any person acting as couriers to exchange old notes in particular in Nagaland.

While speaking to a reputed newspaper, unnamed security sources said that as per information at hand gathered from intelligence agencies, militant groups have lost at least 50% of the cash following the demonetisation exercise by the Union Government.

According to intelligence inputs, the United Liberation Front of Asom (I) was keeping around Rs 6 crore in old currency notes in camps in Myanmar and the outfit managed to exchange around 50 pc of those in Nagaland.

It pertains the relationship between the ultras and counterparts from the other side of the border.

The outfit used the family members of the ULFA (I) militants, who are now staying in Nagaland and their sympathizers and associates in that State to exchange the old currency notes.

The NSCN (K) tried to exchange old currency notes valued at around Rs 5 crore and the outfit also managed to exchange around 50% of the amount.

The outfit sent a group to Zunheboto district for the exchange of currency notes.

It is believed that the Manipur-based outfits also managed to get substantial amounts of old currency notes, but the amount is yet to be assessed by the security agencies.

Sources further said that the issue has been discussed in various forums and the last meeting of the Unified Command on November 22 had also taken serious note of the issue and the Assam Government has already written to the Government of Nagaland and the State Bank of India.

The security agencies are also monitoring the situation so that the persons used by the ultras to exchange the old currency notes can be brought to book, sources added.

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