Burmese army targets Indian rebels
Saturday, 7 November 2009
Burmese troops have surrounded a base of Naga separatists in the country's northwest and begun bombing it, Indian military officials said, reports BBC.
They said Indian troops have fanned out in the hills opposite this base in Sagaing to arrest any rebels who may try to flee into Indian territory.
The base is operated by the Khaplang faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN). There are around 300 rebels at the base, Indian intelligence agencies say. Two Burmese light infantry regiments are involved in the attack, they said. But Burmese military officials or diplomats were unwilling to provide details.
Villagers around Maniakshaw in Sagaing said they could see the Burmese troops firing mortars, targeting the camp.
Indian troops confirmed heavy shelling of the Naga rebel base since late on Thursday but were not sure whether the Burmese had launched an infantry assault.
Burma's military junta has been under Indian diplomatic pressure to launch assaults against northeast Indian rebel bases in its territory for some time now.
But the junta has cited counter-insurgency commitments elsewhere in the country for not starting an offensive against these bases located mostly in Sagaing division in the hilly northwest of the country.
They said Indian troops have fanned out in the hills opposite this base in Sagaing to arrest any rebels who may try to flee into Indian territory.
The base is operated by the Khaplang faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN). There are around 300 rebels at the base, Indian intelligence agencies say. Two Burmese light infantry regiments are involved in the attack, they said. But Burmese military officials or diplomats were unwilling to provide details.
Villagers around Maniakshaw in Sagaing said they could see the Burmese troops firing mortars, targeting the camp.
Indian troops confirmed heavy shelling of the Naga rebel base since late on Thursday but were not sure whether the Burmese had launched an infantry assault.
Burma's military junta has been under Indian diplomatic pressure to launch assaults against northeast Indian rebel bases in its territory for some time now.
But the junta has cited counter-insurgency commitments elsewhere in the country for not starting an offensive against these bases located mostly in Sagaing division in the hilly northwest of the country.