In Myanmar Operations, a Militant Camp Was Found Empty, Say Sources

New Delhi: Early on Tuesday morning, when a team of the elite 21 Para (Special Forces) reached a militant camp in Ponyu, a few kilometres inside Myanmar, they realised it was largely empty, contrary to intelligence inputs, sources have told NDTV.

Niki Sumi, the military commander of the NSCN (K) or Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang was expected to be at the camp. The NSCN(K) is believed to have led a mixed group of militants to ambush an Army convoy on June 4, killing 18 soldiers of the 6 Dogra unit of the Indian Army.

As the Indian para commandos went about smashing the camp, they realised that most of the rebels there had fled.

The government, top sources said, is looking into what could have led the militants to flee. They told NDTV that Sumi is known to change locations frequently.

Also, they said, the militants would know that they were in the Army's crosshairs after the audacious attack on June 4 and so may have decided to empty the camp. "We cannot rule out the possibility of the rebels anticipating punitive action after killing 18 soldiers," an official said.

The officials also said, "These camps are not permanent structures, and are abandoned or set up according to convenience."

The para commandos spotted some of the ultras fleeing and followed them for at least three kilometres and neutralised them, the sources said.

Intelligence inputs and radio intercepts reportedly suggest that the commandos chased and killed at least 15 militants and injured some more. It is not yet clear whether Sumi was killed in the operation.