As the government hopes for a breakthrough to strike a peace accord with insurgent group NSCN (IM), the 'battle for supremacy' between Naga groups has increased violence in districts bordering Myanmar in Arunachal Pradesh, according to a Home Ministry report.
In 2012, Arunachal Pradesh accounted for 5 per cent of insurgency-related incidents in the entire region. In 2017, it rose to 20 per cent. This is alarming trend, especially when insurgency in Northeast has been declining.
The state is grappling to deal with the spill over activities of various groups of the Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN).
A framework agreement was signed between the Centre and insurgent group NSCN (Isac-Muivah) in 2015. The group is part of a ceasefire agreement since 1997.
NSCN (KN)—Kitovi Neokpao and NSCN (R) —Reformation are also part of a ceasefire agreement.
NSCN (K) or the Khaplang faction that abrogated the ceasefire in 2015 continues to be a major threat, but the rivalry between the groups has been impacting law and order situation as their cadres are continuously engaged in forced recruitment, area domination, kidnapping and extortions, according to ground reports.
This also finds a mention in a recent report of the parliamentary standing committee of the Home Ministry on the situation in Northeast.
The sensitive districts of Tirap, Changlang, and Longding in the state where most of this activity is continuing are under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act or AFSPA.
The geographical contiguity with Myanmar and ethnic similarities among the residents of some districts of Arunachal Pradesh with the residents of Nagaland has been exploited by insurgent groups based in Assam and Nagaland for their nefarious activities.
It's not just the Naga groups, but also cadres of Assam-based insurgents that are sometimes active in Arunachal Pradesh; seeking shelter and transit in the state, particularly in the areas bordering Assam and Myanmar.
CEASEFIRE SIGNED, BUT ARMS STILL ACTIVE
- The government has been continuing talks to strike a peace accord with insurgent group NSCN (IM), which signed a ceasefire agreement in 1997.
- Other groups like NSCN (KN) NSCN (R) are also part of a ceasefire agreement, but NSCN (K) continues to be a major threat to the law and order situation.
