Imphal, October 17 2009: GOC of 3 Corp, Lt General NK Singh, has not ruled out the possibility of launching yet another operation at Loktak lake to flush out militants, if they return to the said lake and set up camps.

A large number of militant camps were destroyed and arms recovered while a number of militants were killed during Operation Summer Storm, jointly launched by troops of 57 Mountain Division and State police force in April this year.

Interacting with the media at the 3 Corp Headquarters at Rangapahar, Dimapur, on October 15, the GOC, while answering queries, said that operations will be carried out at the Lake when required and at the opportune moment.

Maintaining that Loktak is not merely another lake, the GOC gave a brief description of the 'terrain' of the lake, explaining that there are human habitations as well as grazing grounds and Phumdis, which make it difficult for the security forces to move about in boats.

The GOC admitted that the militants may try to re-enter the lake and added that if they do return another operation will be launched.

To another question on whether the Government has received any report about the existence of North East militants' camps in Myanmar, the GOC said that there are some camps across the international border but hastened to add that there is no question of the Myanmar Govt patronising the militant groups.

The camps have been set up with local support, he added, though he did not elaborate on what he meant by local support.

The officer explained that broadly the camps may be classified into three types big camps, training camps and transitory camps.

"The matter has been raised at all levels with the Myanmar Government," said Lt General NK Singh.

'In fact the Chief of Army Staff, General Kapoor returned from Myanmar yesterday (October 14), after discussing a number of issues," said NK Singh.

Some years back, some of the camps were near to the international border, but after pressure was mounted by the security forces, the camps have been shifted deeper beyond the border, said the GOC further.

To a question on the possibility of launching any joint operations by India and Myanmar to flush out the camps, NK Singh said that the matter will be discussed.

On the report that ULFA leader, Paresh Baruah was recently sighted at the border area in Manipur, the GOC said that the information could not be authenticated.

"When things become difficult, militant leaders try to move out," he said and added that there are reports that Baruah was in Bangladesh.

Terming the July 23 incident as a stumbling block to the process to restore peace and normalcy, the GOC said that efforts are being made to reach out to the people and expressed hope that the pre-23/7 days will return.

"Children not going to school is very unfortunate," he observed.

Responding to a number of queries from the media, the GOC said that the ceasefire between the NSCN (IM) and the Government of India has been in force for 12 years.

"The Centre may be able to offer a political package by the end of the year," he observed and added that the Union Home Secretary was in Nagaland till October 14 .

From economic packages, the Government has seen the need to come out with a political package to resolve the issue, said the GOC further.

The Government of India is sincere, he added.

Asserting that the ceasefire is in force only in Nagaland, the senior Army officer said that action is being taken up against the NSCN (IM) in other States.

On the reported presence of the two factions of the outfit in Tirap and Changlang in Arunachal Pradesh, NK Singh said that these two places are used primarily as transit routes by militants.

There have been attempts to set up camps by the militants at these two places, but the security forces have been taking action against these attempts, he explained.

The GOC also spoke on the present situation in North Cachar Hills District, Mizoram and Tripura.

Comment