New Delhi: Investigation into Thursday's attack on an Army convoy in Manipur that killed 18 soldiers, indicates it was led by Starson Lamkang, a self-styled kilonser or 'minister' of the NSCN(K), along with other valley-based militants.
The attack appears to be the first strike of a newly-formed umbrella group called the United Liberation Front of Western South Asia comprising the National Socialist Council of Nagaland or NSCN(K), the Paresh Baruah faction of the United Liberation Front of Assam or ULFA, the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (Songajit) and the Kamtapur Liberation Organisation.
The Army assesses that at least 50 militants took part in the attack, which was planned in advance. "Why our units could not pick up the movement of men in the area is baffling us" a senior officer in the Military Intelligence told NDTV.
Intelligence inputs also suggested that an attack would be attempted in the first week of June.
The new group has come up recently after the NSCN(K) abrogated its 15-year-old ceasefire with the Centre. Intelligence agencies have told the government that they have been brought together at the insistence of a "neighbouring country."
What is also baffling the Army is the inability of the road-opening party - troops who move ahead of a convey - to sanitize the route.
The attack appears to be the first strike of a newly-formed umbrella group called the United Liberation Front of Western South Asia comprising the National Socialist Council of Nagaland or NSCN(K), the Paresh Baruah faction of the United Liberation Front of Assam or ULFA, the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (Songajit) and the Kamtapur Liberation Organisation.
The Army assesses that at least 50 militants took part in the attack, which was planned in advance. "Why our units could not pick up the movement of men in the area is baffling us" a senior officer in the Military Intelligence told NDTV.
Intelligence inputs also suggested that an attack would be attempted in the first week of June.
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The new group has come up recently after the NSCN(K) abrogated its 15-year-old ceasefire with the Centre. Intelligence agencies have told the government that they have been brought together at the insistence of a "neighbouring country."
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What is also baffling the Army is the inability of the road-opening party - troops who move ahead of a convey - to sanitize the route.
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