Northeast is sanctuary for insurgents: Intelligence Bureau chief

Guwahati: The director of Intelligence Bureau Syed Asif Ibrahim on Saturday said that there has been decline in the activities of left wing insurgency but security scenario of Northeastern states remain fragile.

In his address to the 49th annual conference of DGPs, IGPs of all States, Union Territories and Central Police Organisations Mr Ibrahim said, “Safe sanctuaries for insurgent groups in the neighbouring countries, particularly in Burma, has compounded the security situation in the region.”

Analysing the security situation, the IB director said that NDFB in Assam is responsible for 85 per cent of the casualties.

In Meghalaya the GNLA-Ulfa combine is responsible for 75 per cent of casualties and 40 per cent of incidents, while the Meitei underground groups are responsible for 55 per cent of casualties in Manipur, he said.

In Nagaland it was inter-necine clashes among various outfits for area domination and extortion, while in Arunachal Pradesh there is turf war between two Naga groups in three districts of Changlang, Tirap and Longding, said Mr Ibrahim.

“The decline in activities of Maoist threat was visible with strength of its central panel coming down from 39 in 2004 to 20 now,” he said.

Pointing out that left wing insurgent group was also facing desertion, Mr Ibra-him said, “They have crisis of leadership and are facing shortage of arms. Their  area of operation is also shrinking.”