Imphal:
A sense of uncertainty has been building up in Manipur around unconfirmed reports of the arrest of one of the country's most wanted militants - the chief of United National Liberation Front (UNLF) which is the region's biggest militant outfit.
In a clear shift of policy over the last one year, Bangladesh has handed over to India one of the country's most wanted separatist leaders.
There are unconfirmed reports that Rajkumar Meghen, the chief of Northeast's oldest armed resistance groups the United National Liberation Front (UNLF), is also supposed to have been handed over. If that is true then this is probably one of the biggest arrests in the country in recent times.
However, there is no clarity yet. For Manipur this may have implications.
"People are concerned about Mehgen's whereabouts. Not that they have any love for him but the consequences of anything to happen to him would be absolutely bad for the general population," said Prof Amar Yumnam, Department of Economics, Manipur University.
For years, the family of Rajkumar Meghen has claimed they have no ties with him but now they have approached the UN to trace his whereabouts. The appeal even has a veiled threat.
"Who knows Manipur maybe in big trouble if his whereabouts are going to be kept secret forever because he belongs to an armed group and his lower cadres may take drastic action," said Meghen's son Chinglen.
Over the last two months the outfit has suffered heavy losses. If UNLF can be convinced to hold talks, it's a matter of time before other groups give in - an opportunity Manipur perhaps wouldn't want to miss.