‘Lower ranks of Myanmar military helping militants’

The Myanmar junta has admitted that the lower ranks of its military were helping the Northeast-based militants, Director General of Assam Rifles, Lt General Paramjit Singh said here on Friday. The admission was made during the visit of a high-level delegation of Union Home Ministry to that country.

According to Lt Gen Singh, who was also part of the delegation, the higher officials of the Myanmar junta said that its lower ranks were sympathetic to the NE-based insurgent groups. Though there was an understanding between the Indian and Myanmar Governments not to allow the NE-based insurgents to operate from Myanmar soil, the outfits have managed to set up camps inside Myanmar with the help of its lower ranks, he said. Earlier, the Assam Rifles had launched an offensive against the ULFA forcing the cadres to cross over to Myanmar.

The Indian government raised the issue of ULFA men taking refuge in their soil with Myanmar Government. Singh said the Myanmar junta had assured that it will crack-down on the militants hiding in the country.