NE rebels surviving on smuggling of arms, drugs: Lt Gen Kalita

Guwahati: The Army’s Eastern Command GoC-in-C Lt Gen Rana Pratap Kalita said here that the northeast’s insurgent groups have lost their “ideological moorings” and are sustaining through extortion as well as arms and drugs smuggling as he appealed them to shun violence as society wants peace and development in a democratic setup.
Lt Gen Kalita, who hails from Assam, also expressed concerns over the recruitment drive by Ulfa (I) and appealed to the youths not to join the militant group.
Talking to media here, he said, “The insurgency situation in the northeast is under control and quite stable and if the situation improves further, we may see further de-induction of armed forces from counter-insurgency responsibilities so that we are able to focus on our primary responsibility across the northern borders,” he said.
“The northeast insurgents groups have lost their ideological moorings and public support. The minimal support they are getting is due to the fear of gun. There is no place for violence in society and people are looking for peace and in democratic set up,” he said.
“The insurgent groups are trying to sustain themselves by resorting to extortion along with arms and drugs smuggling. A time will come when they will join the mainstream,” Lt Gen. Kalita added.
He said Ulfa (I) has recruited people from both Upper and lower Assam regions. “The recuitments are mostly done through social media and what I have been made to understand that most of these youths joining Ulfa (I) have criminal backgrounds.”
He said AFSPA is in force in some areas, mainly along the Indo-Myanmar border and other areas, “because of the problems that we foresee from insurgents groups, which have got camps there.”