by NJ Thakuria

Guwahati: Signaling a new hope for trustedfriendship between India
(Bharat) and Myanmar (Burma), the federalgovernment in NayPieTaw
recently handed over  22 members of variousarmed outfits from the
Northeast. All the insurgents were apprehendedby Myanmar security
forces from Sagaing locality and extraditedfollowing the successful
persuasion by India’s national security adviserAjit Doval.

A special flight carrying the groups ofinsurgents belonged to United
National Liberation Front (UNLF), People’sRevolutionary Party of
Kangleipak (PREPAK-Pro), Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup(KYKL), People’s
Liberation Army (PLA), National Democratic Frontof Boroland (NDFB-S)
and Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO) reachedImphal  and
disembarked 12 rebels. Later it came to Guwahatito hand over 10
rebels to Assam police.

Recognized as the first of its kind gesture byMyanmar military
Tatmadaw, the Ajit Doval supervised operationresulted in bringing
back most wanted militant leaders like PeshuramLesharam (PREPAK-Pro),
Santomba Ningthaujam (UNLF), Rajen Daimary &Sansuma Basumatary
(NDFB-S) etc. It simply signifies the enhanceddefence and
intelligence ties for both the neighboringcountries.

It may be noted that most of northeasternmilitants, after losing
their bases in Bhutan and Bangladesh, tookshelter in Myanmar. They
also run their training centers insideMyanmarese jungles adjacent to
the China border. Fugitive Paresh Barua,who  leads United Liberation
Front of Assam (Independent), is understood astaking shelter in such
a locality.

Following the Covid-19 pandemic protocol amidstnationwide lockdown,
all Manipur militants were taken to a quarantinecentre in the State
capital after taking their samples for screening.Rebels from Assam
have been taken to a Guwahati hotel for thenecessary isolation and
their samples were taken to test for novelcorona virus infection.