North-East Border Village's Bold Step Takes On Cross-Border Insurgency

Arunachal Pradesh: A village right on the Indo-Myanmar border in Arunachal Pradesh infested for decades by Naga terrorists has taken a bold decision to ban them from entering their village. The terrorists, belonging mostly to the Khaplang faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-K), frequently move in and out of their Myanmar bases through this village. The ban comes after an attack on the Indian Army operational base earlier this week, where insurgents had allegedly used the villagers as human shields.

"On 10th October when suspected NSCN-K militant attacked Indian Army operation base, we were used as human shields," said a local villager who did not wish to be named.

This attack led to a rare protest by tribal villagers from Niausa in Longding district of Arunachal Pradesh on the border with Myanmar. The protesters pledged to not allow themselves to be used as human shields, showing their determination to enforce their ban on the terrorists.

For the Indian Army, it's a huge help.

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"Locals in that area have spoken against them, which we consider a tight slap on them. This will propel us to carry further operations against these anti-national groups," said Lt Col Suneet Newton, Defence Spokesperson based in Guwahati.

The villagers had earlier, reportedly, been the eyes and ears of Naga terrorists for a long time. Along with the villagers' help, the North-East terror groups have used this village for safe passage, food and shelter and extorted a huge number of taxes from them. The village locals now no longer wish to welcome the insurgents anymore.

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The border near Niausa village is porous and the terrain is difficult. The NSCN-K has controlled strongholds on many villages at both sides of the border.

But the NSCN-K now seems to be losing its grip due to a number of reasons.

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After Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Myanmar last month, the Indian Army has been increasingly pursuing terrorists along the Myanmar border.

Indian Special Forces had targeted terror launch pads run by the NSCN-K and shared by other terror groups in Myanmar on September 27.

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Apart from the army operations, the NSCN-K chief SS Khaplang died three months ago, which further weakened the terrorists.