According to the Defence Ministry, Indian security forces launched operations in Arunachal Pradesh along the border following specific information about the movement of unknown armed individuals.
Cross-border security threats in India’s Northeast
- Insurgent activities: Several insurgent groups like NSCN-K, ULFA (I), PLA, and NDFB have used Myanmar as a safe haven for training, regrouping, and launching attacks on Indian security forces.
- Ethnic conflict and refugee influx: Political turmoil in Myanmar, especially after the 2021 military coup, led to a spillover of refugees, especially ethnic Chins and Rohingyas causing law and order issues, strain on resources fueling local resentment.
- Arms and drug trafficking: Entry of drugs from Golden Triangle (Myanmar-Laos-Thailand) - a major source of heroin and synthetic drugs - through Myanmar into Manipur and Mizoram, aggravates the drug abuse issues.
Measures taken to counter these threats
- Legal and policy: National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam to identify illegal migrants, scrapping of Free Movement Regime with Myanmar, etc.
- Counter insurgency operations: Joint ops (Operation Sunrise) by Indian Army and Myanmar Army to destroy cross-border insurgent camps, active operations by Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) to intercept drug smuggling, etc.
- Border infrastructure and surveillance: Smart fencing under Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System (CIBMS), strengthening of border outposts, etc.
