GUWAHATI: Myanmar has made a major breakthrough in operations to flush out Indian militants holed up in its territory for decades bordering India’s eastern front. In response, Indian troops have sealed a 22-km-long stretch of the international border along Mizoram to prevent Arakan Army rebels flee from the Myanmerese army.A statement issued by the office of Myanmar’s commander-in-chief stated that Tatmadaw (official name of Myanmar army) troops have arrested four insurgents from Assam and Manipur during operations from February 8 to 19 near Takar village in the Naga self-administered Zone in the Sagaing region. The troops also captured a camp and recovered 53 weapons and ammunition.Earlier on January 29, the Tatmadaw carried out security operations in an NSCN(K) camp near Takar village following information that Assam and Kathe (local name for Meitei rebels from Manipur) insurgents were moving there and captured the NSCN(K) camp and arms. The troops arrested six NSCN(K) members and seized 79 weapons and assorted ammunition.The NSCN (K), a group belonging to the ethnic Naga tribe of Myanmar, controls the Naga-administered zone. The group has been accused by Myanmar of violating a bilateral ceasefire agreement of 2012 by giving shelter to militants from India, who are fighting in Assam and Manipur. The statement said Tatmadaw troops will continue their security operations to prevent infiltration by insurgents into the Naga self-administered zone and to provide stability to the zone.Security sources said over 500 troops of the Assam Rifles and the Assam Regiment have been stationed along the international border between Parva and Lungpuk villages of Mizoram. Indian authorities have described the buildup as a joint routine training exercise in the border.Reports suggest that thousands of people from Paletwa township in China state of Myanmar have been fleeing towards the Indian border following Myanmar’s crackdown on Arakan Army.Quoting U Kyaw Wan Sein, a member of NSCN-K’s central executive committee, Myanmar daily ‘Irrawaddy’, in a report, stated, “There has been no violation. We have tried our best to maintain peace and the ceasefire agreement. We don’t want to see the destruction of the trust that we have taken so long to build up. So, we don’t understand what the Tatmadaw means.”“He added that the Tatmadaw’s move had not resulted in any armed clashes as the NSCN-K’s troops had retreated from the headquarters in order to avoid a gunbattle. He said some members of the NSCN-K Peace Committee are still in Taga, but Tatmadaw troops have control of the area,” the daily reported.

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