India’s fight with terrorism is hidden from none. As the nation rejoiced in the double celebration of the airstrikes that destroyed terror camps of Jaish-e-Mohammed and the heroic comeback of IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman from captivity in Pakistan, some welcome news emerged from the northeastern frontier as well. As of now, Myanmar Army has taken over the headquarters of terrorist outfit NSCN (K) after an armed struggle against the same.
According to confirmed media reports, over 500 soldiers from Myanmar Army have completely dismantled the chief hideouts of terrorist outfit National Socialist Council of Nagaland Khaplang [NSCN (K)] last week. They have also taken physical control of the same after the terrorists refused to follow the order issued by the army men to leave the camps without delay.
Apart from NSCN (K), many other terrorist outfits operating in the northeastern part of India had their base in Myanmar. The Myanmar Army soldiers also destroyed a number of camps that belonged to the ULFA (I) and other terror outfits of northeast India. Most of the terror outfits of northeast India, including the Paresh Barua led ULFA (I) have been using the facilities of NSCN (K) to maintain their bases and carry out operations against the Indian state. As such, this action has given them a major setback as well. Some security sources also pointed out that the Myanmar Army has also confiscated a huge cache of arms and ammunition from the insurgents who had taken shelter in forest areas.
NSCN (K), doesn’t this ring a bell? Yes, this is the same group that had killed 18 soldiers of the Indian Army, hailing from the Dogra regiment in Chandel district in mid-2015. It was against this very terror attack that the Indian Army carried out cross border surgical strikes officially within a few days, killing all the terrorists involved in the attack, with the casualties on the militant side amounting to more than 55 terrorists.
NSCN (K) was primarily established to give wind to the cause of separatism in Nagaland and Manipur. They had made their base in Myanmar and used to carry out terror attacks in northeast India. However, with the surgical strikes in 2015, their authority began to gradually weaken, and the takeover of their headquarters recently is most likely the final nail in their coffin.
Right from assuming power in 2014, PM Modi led NDA government has been unequivocal in their stance against terrorism. Thanks to the free hand given to the security forces, there have been practically negligible terror attacks on civilians, with the exception of regions close to the border and the politically volatile region of Kashmir Valley.
Moreover, if any terror group had even dared to stage a major attack, the security forces under the current Modi government have responded effectively. Be it the cross border surgical strikes of 2015 and 2016, or the recent air strikes, the terrorists have been sent a clear message: their attacks will not be tolerated and they shall have to pay a heavy price for the same.
As such, the takeover of NSCN (K) headquarters by the Myanmar Army is nothing less than a significant diplomatic victory for Indian armed forces, as well as the incumbent Modi government. We hope that the fight to end terrorism continues and the scourge of terrorism is permanently eliminated from the face of the Indian subcontinent.