Insurgency in Northeast India

Insurgency in Northeast India

Map of India with northeastern states highlighted red
Date1954–present
(70 years)
Location
Status

Ongoing (low level insurgency)

Belligerents

 India

Supported by :

Separatist groups:

Other:
Supported by:

Jihadist groups:

Commanders and leaders
Former:

G Bidai
Arabinda Rajkhowa  (POW)
Paresh Baruah
N. Bisheshwar Singh
Anup Chetia  (POW)
Kalalung Kamei
Arambam Somorendra  
Angami Zapu Phizo  
Laldenga  
I. K. Songbijit  Surrendered
Biswamohan Debbarma  (POW)
Durga Minz  Surrendered
Xabrias Khakha  Surrendered
Prem Brahma  Surrendered
Milton Burman  (POW)
Tom Adhikary  (POW)
Men Sing Takbi  
Pradip Terang  Surrendered
Ranjit Debbarma  (POW)


Asim Umar  
Osama Mahmood
Strength
India 200,000 in Nagaland (1995)[11]
Bangladesh 70,000 (1992)[11]
Bhutan 8,634 (2008)[12]
Myanmar Unknown

25,000 (2010)[13]
12,000 (2005)[14]
14,500 (2007)[15]
7,225 (2008)[16]
20,00 (2024)[17]
1,850 (2004)[18]
ACF: 1,350 (2005)[19]


Unknown

Unknown
Casualties and losses
Since 1992: 12,762 killed[20]
130–536 killed, 400–708 injured[a][21][22][23][24][excessive citations]
Since 1992: 80,554 killed in India[20] 17,554 killed or captured by Bangladesh border guards
1,485-1,650 killed in Bhutan[21][25]
140,000 civilians killed overall[26]

The Insurgency in Northeast India involves multiple separatist and jihadist militant groups operating in some of India's northeastern states, which are connected to the rest of India by the Siliguri Corridor, a strip of land as narrow as 14.29 miles (23.00 km) wide.

Northeastern India consists of seven states (also known as the Seven Sister States): Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Manipur, and Nagaland. Tensions existed between insurgents in these states and the central government as well as amongst their native indigenous people and migrants from other parts of India and illegal immigrants.

In recent years, insurgency in the region has seen rapid decline, with a 70% reduction in insurgency incidents and an 80% drop in civilian deaths in 2019 compared to 2013.[27]

The 2014 Indian general election had an 80% voter turnout in all northeastern states, the highest among all states of India according to Indian government. Indian authorities claim that this shows the faith of the northeastern people in Indian democracy.[28] Indian Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan then Eastern Army Commander had stated that as of 2020, the area of violence in the entire North-East has shrunk primarily to an area which is the tri-junction between Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and north Nagaland.[29]

  1. ^ Samaddar, Ranabir (2016). Neo-Liberal Strategies of Governing India. Routledge. p. 196.
  2. ^ "Prominent SULFA militant killed". Zee News. 19 November 2007. Archived from the original on 7 September 2018. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
  3. ^ "Bhutan Army seizes ULFA HQ". Times of India. 16 December 2003.
  4. ^ "BSF: Insurgent camps on Bangladesh-India border have almost disappeared". Dhaka Tribune. 19 December 2017. Archived from the original on 11 June 2018. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  5. ^ "While India was glued to Balakot airstrike, army carried out mega strikes along Myanmar border". India Today. 15 March 2019. Archived from the original on 15 March 2019. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  6. ^ "Chinese agencies helping North East militants in Myanmar". Indian Express. 10 January 2017. Archived from the original on 5 September 2018. Retrieved 4 September 2018.(until 1976)
  7. ^ "Myanmar support gives NE rebels a shot in the arm". Times of India. 5 June 2015. Archived from the original on 13 October 2018. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
  8. ^ "Did Bhutan offer Rs. 200cr to ULFA for shifting base?". Hindustan Times. 14 June 2014.
  9. ^ Suba Chandran, D (2015). Armed Conflict, Peace Audit and Early Warning 2014. SAGE Publishing. Maoists, in turn, are said to be providing explosives (ammonium nitrate) and funds to the northeast groups.
  10. ^ "ISI, al-Qaeda assisting Assam militants". The Times of India. 17 May 2003. Archived from the original on 30 July 2018. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
  11. ^ a b Uppsala conflict data expansion. Non-state actor information. Codebook pp. 81–82; 176; 227; 249–250; 272–273; 291–294
  12. ^ "Countries at the Crossroads: Bhutan". Freedom House. 2011. Archived from the original on 7 March 2014. Retrieved 9 December 2016. and "Bhutan's Militia" Archived 5 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Kuensel. 15 September 2003. Retrieved 4 October 2014.
  13. ^ Andrew T .H. Tan (18 October 2010). Politics of Terrorism: A Survey. Routledge. p. 190. ISBN 978-1-136-83336-6. Archived from the original on 6 July 2014. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  14. ^ Nitin A. Gokhale (1 October 2005). "A life roughed–out in the jungle". Tehelka. Hong Kong. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 22 June 2014.
  15. ^ Lyle Morris (22 March 2011). "Is China Backing Indian Insurgents?". The Diplomat. Archived from the original on 5 May 2011. Retrieved 27 April 2011.
  16. ^ DailyExcelsior[permanent dead link].
  17. ^ "Will Assam agreement end insurgency?". deccanherald.com. 19 January 2024. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  18. ^ Latimer, William (March 2004). "What can the United States learn from India to counter terrorism?" (PDF). Naval Postgraduate School. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 July 2007. Retrieved 1 March 2009.
  19. ^ Adivasi Cobra Force (ACF) Archived 30 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine — MIPT
  20. ^ a b "Fatalities in Terrorist Violence in India's Northeast ::South Asia Terrorism portal". Satp.org. Archived from the original on 19 December 2016. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
  21. ^ a b "A nation pays tribute". Kuensel Online. 15 August 2004. Archived from the original on 10 June 2011. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  22. ^ "124 killed in Bhutan operation". The Tribune. 17 December 2003. Archived from the original on 3 January 2004. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  23. ^ Tobgay, Tshering (16 December 2011). "Thanking our armed forces". Tshering Tobgay. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  24. ^ "NDFB militants strike in Bhutan". The Times of India. 20 February 2011. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  25. ^ Banerjee, Dipankar; Laishram, Bidhan S (5 January 2004). "Bhutan's "Operation All Clear": Implications for insurgency and security cooperation" (PDF). IPCS. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  26. ^ "India – Northeast (1979 – first combat deaths)". Ploug shares. Archived from the original on 26 October 2014. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
  27. ^ "70 per cent decline in insurgency incidents in Northeast: Government". The Economic Times.
  28. ^ "State-Wise Voter Turnout in General Election 2014". Election Commission of India. Government of India. Press Information Bureau. 21 May 2014. Archived from the original on 4 June 2014. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  29. ^ "Insurgency on decline in North East, tri-junction between Assam, Arunachal and north Nagaland arc of violence: Eastern Army commander". FirstPost. 14 February 2020.


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