Myanmar army launches 'Operation Sunrise-3' against Northeast Indian insurgent groups

Yangon: Stepping up its crackdown against Northeast Indian insurgents, Myanmar army has launched ‘Operation Sunrise-3’ to crack down on various insurgent groups gathered at the Indo-Myanmar border. It is now being learnt that the Myanmarese army is beginning a crackdown against the various Northeast-based insurgent groups that are operating on the country's soil. It is no secret that many of the separatist outfits are carrying out insurgency ops from across the Myanmar border which is largely porous. The National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang (NSCN-K), led by Yung Aung, is consolidating its position inside Myanmar

Earlier this month, Indian foreign secretary Harsh Shringla and Indian Army Chief Gen Manoj Mukund Naravane went on a two-day visit to Myanmar in a visit that was expected to be of great significance as far as anti-insurgency ops were concerned. Talks were held between leaders of the two countries about joint actions against insurgents groups operating in North East India and in Myanmar.

It has also been disclosed that specialized Myanmar army units are engaged to carry out combing operations in search of Northeast Indian insurgents in the Sagaing region of Myanmar.

At the same time, infantry units of the Tatmadaw (Myanmar army) are also said to be carrying out operations against militants towards the eastern side of Manipur river.

The Myanmar Army's 'Operation Sunrise-3' in the Sagaing Division is mainly due to the latest input of insurgents groups consolidating positions in Sagaing and other areas in the Northern Chin state.

The security agencies of both countries believe that the insurgent groups along the Indo-Myanmar border are conspiring to infiltrate into the Indian side through the Mizoram border.

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Myanmar's government in May this year reportedly handed over at least 22 militants from the North East. By doing so, Myanmar the third neighbouring country to act against the Indian frontier region’s insurgents at New Delhi’s request.

Though Myanmarese soil has been used by North Eastern insurgents, mainly from Nagaland and Manipur, for a long time, this was the first time that the Myanmar military (Tatmadaw) had acted on India’s request and handed militants from the Northeast.

The Myanmar government had also signed a memorandum of understanding on the governance of the areas contiguous to India with the NSCN (K), even though it was then a banned insurgent group in India.

It needs mention here that from early 2019 onwards, Myanmar's government has been actively cooperating with India to crack down on northeast insurgents and take full control of those areas.

Back in January of 2019, the Tatmadaw had conducted raids on some insurgent camps in the frontier areas and reportedly arrested 24 militants from Assam and Manipur.

In February last year, the Tatmadaw took control of the NSCN (K) headquarters in the Sagaing region after the death of its supremo S.S. Khaplang. This sent out a clear signal that Myanmar would not allow its soil to be used for insurgency purposes.

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