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Narendra Modi's tough stance unsettling for Northeast rebels

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 In what appears to be a making a shift from the established convention of all past central governments, Prime Minister Narendra Modi seems to have taken a tough stand of not engaging with the North-Eastern insurgent groups at his level.

Modi so far has not met National Socialist Council of Nagalim – Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) top leaders Isak Chishi Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah who have been camping in Delhi since a week before he went for the US tour of September 26. NSCN (I-M) is one of the most potent insurgent groups in the northeast that still has a large base of armed cadres intact.

If Modi persists with this strategy, it will be the first time since 1997 – when the bloody conflict was brought to an end by signing a ceasefire agreement between government of India and NSCN (I-M) – that a PM would not meet them.

The side-tracking of their leaders, who are designated as Yaruiwo (President) and Ato Kilonser (Prime Minister) of the self-styled Government of the People's Republic of Nagalim and the chairman and president of their party NSCN (I-M), has not gone well with the cadres of the outfit. Moreover, they are also not very pleased with the newly appointed interlocutor R N Ravi, who is tough in approach.

While a large section of the NSCN (I-M) is feeling slighted because of this development and is anxious about the future of the ceasefire and talks, a section with in the Indian security establishment also thinks that it is not a step in the right direction.

"The government should not take NSCN (I-M) lightly as it seems to be taking or, at least, trying to project. It can impact on the ceasefire agreement and future of the talks whose fall out can push the North-East in turmoil again," said a senior security official not willing to be quoted because of the involvement of his seniors for advising the PM to be tough.

However, a simultaneous development of NCSN (I-M) cosying up a Myanmar based Indian insurgent outfit has increased the anxiety within the security establishment and has put the focus back on having talks.

According to intelligence inputs the NSCN (I-M) has re-establish its contact with another powerful Meitei insurgent group Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL) based in Myanmar.

Recently, the NSCN (I-M) has twice sent its senior members to Myanmar - senior steering committee member, Akhui, and later "Colonel" Thotmathing - to meet KYKL leaders in Myanmar. Security agencies believe that the NSCN (I-M) is engaged in re-assembling its cadres in case of a possible scenario of negotiations failing with the Modi government.

Almost a hundred NSCN (I-M) cadres said to have assembled in Sagaing division of Myanmar where the Meitei group has a base. This is for the first time in a decade, the NSCN (I-M) has re-established contacts with a north-eastern outfit with bases in Myanmar.

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