ndian Army is keeping vigil on alleged links between Indian militant and Nepali Maoists

India keeping vigil on Maoist-KLO, ULFA nexus

Indian Army is keeping vigil on alleged links between Indian militant organisations and Nepali Maoists, a senior Indian army official said.

The Times of India, a leading Indian daily, quoted eastern command GOC-in-C of the Indian Army, Arvind Sharma, as saying that Kamtapur Liberation Organization (KLO), United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and the Maoists of Nepal were posing a new dimension to the insurgency situation in Assam and north Bengal states of India.

Addressing a meet-the-Press programme at Kolkata Press Club Monday, Sharma said the (Indian) army was keeping a close watch on the growing nexus. It was in liaison with the state governments concerned. "It certainly poses a new threat, if this continues," he added.

Though KLO was reduced in number after the flush-out operations in Bhutan, it was getting shelter in Maoist camps in Nepal, along with its mentor ULFA. The Maoists, too, had an interest in north Bengal and lower Assam, the disturbed south Bhutan being close to these places, the daily reported.

The Indian army had suggested to the government that a standardized rehabilitation package be worked out for militants who would lay down arms. Currently, the packages were different in states like Jammu and Kashmir, Assam and Manipur. All the states did not implement the packages with equal seriousness, but if promises to militants coming overground were not fulfilled, others would not be encouraged to lay down arms.

Even if the Centre formulated such a package, it would depend on the state governments concerned to implement them, Sharma said. And, all the states did not have equal financial muscle, some of them suffered from a serious resource crunch, the report quoted the Army brass as saying.

Neither Nepali officials nor Maoists have commented on the issue so far.

nepalnews.com by Jan 04 05

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