Rajnath Singh to discuss border issues with 4 CMs of Northeast

GUWAHATI: Smuggling of arms and drugs into India from Myanmar is likely to dominate Union home minister Rajnath Singh’s discussions with the chief ministers of Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh during the northeast security review meeting on June 12.

The meeting, to be held in the Mizoram capital Aizawl, will also be attended by Singh’s deputy Kiren Rijiju besides senior officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs and security agencies. 

The porous 1,643-km long India-Myanmar border is guarded by Assam Rifles, which is a counter-insurgency force. Arunachal (520 km), Nagaland (215 km), Manipur (398 km) and Mizoram (510 km) have various stretches of the border. 

Several banned insurgent outfits, including United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), S S Khaplang faction of National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-K), People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of Manipur now operate from Myanmar after being harried by the security forces in India. 

Defence sources said the proliferation of small arms in the Northeast is another cause of concern. Insurgent groups are actively involved in the smuggling of arms, drugs and contraband.

“Militants run arms, drugs and contraband rackets. The smuggled items are first taken to black markets in the Northeast and from there they find their way across the country,” sources said.