In a coordinated operation named “Operation Sunshine-2”, the Indian army along with Myanmar troops conducted a 3-week long operation targeting several militant groups operating in the border regions of Manipur, Nagaland and Assam.
The operation conducted between May 16 and June 8 targeted several militant outfits including the Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO), the NSCN (Khaplang), the United Liberation Front of Assam (I) and the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB).
Reportedly, around 70-80 militants belonging to these groups were nabbed and several of their camps destroyed during the operation. A third phase of the operation may also be launched depending upon on the actionable intelligence and ground situation.
Militant camps on the Myanmar side were cleared by four brigades of Myanmar Army. The fleeing militants were apprehended by Indian security forces. The Indian side had blocks of two battalions of the Indian Army — along with Special Forces, Assam Rifles and infantry Ghataks.
The two armies were careful not cross over the borders and at the same time were well coordinated, by placing liaison officers with the headquarters of the other each other’s army.
The Myanmar Army decided to stay in these areas to prevent the militants from regrouping. As their infrastructure is stretched heavily during the monsoons, the Indian Army would be providing logical support to these troops.
Myanmar shares a 1,640-km border with India and the thick forests in Myanmar near the border has been used to build camps by various terrorist organisations operating in northeast India. India has been pushing for better coordination between the two countries to handle the militants.
In June 2015, the Indian Army had carried out an operation against NSCN(K) militants in areas near the Indo-Myanmar border, days after militants killed 18 army men in Manipur.
This operation was a follow up of “Operation Sunshine-1” which took place in February where the Indian Army successfully destroyed Arakanese rebel camps that were working towards sabotaging the Kaladan Multimodal transit transport project.
