Indian rebel groups shifting bases from Bangladesh

Indian rebel groups operating from Bangladesh, were exploring ways to shift their bases from Bangladesh to Myanmar and even China after the change of regime in the neighbouring country, a security officer said.

"While so far there is no concrete evidence available regarding Bangladesh's crackdown on camps of Indian insurgent groups, but there is definitely discomfort among the NE outfits having camps in the neighbouring country," the officer said on condition of anonymity.

He said security agencies had inputs that the rebel groups were exploring ways to shift to Myanmar, China and Bhutan, while some were intending to cross over to India.

Last year, India had given a list of 110 camps of Indian rebel groups, mostly those of ULFA, to Bangladesh authorities and sought action against them.

Interestingly, ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa, who is holed up in Bangladesh, had issued a statement to the media a few days back claiming that the group did not have any camps in the neighbouring country.

The officer said as per the inputs available 'Bangladesh security forces have cracked down upon fundamentalist groups like JMB (Jama'atul Mujahiddin, Bangladesh) and arrested a number of its cadres'.

Meanwhile, BSF IG PK Mishra said, "There are inputs that militants were trying to intrude into India from Bangladesh. The BSF has put its maximum force along the borders since the last 15 days."

"We have deployed more than six additional companies in the vulnerable patches like Garo hills in Meghalaya and Dhubri in Assam, while several additional ambush points and nakas (checkposts) have been set up and more boats deployed in the riverine border of Assam," the IG said.