India says over 100 rebels killed in crackdown in revolt-hit Manipur

Agence France Presse 18 January 2005

Guwahati, India: India's army said Tuesday it had killed 126 separatist rebels and captured several hundred more in a crackdown begun three months ago in the revolt-hit northeastern state of Manipur.

Since operations intensified in October, 459 rebels have been captured in Manipur, one of seven remote northeastern states that are hotbeds of ethnic and tribal fighting for autonomy or independence, the army said.

Soldiers have smashed key rebel bases belonging to the outlawed United National Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and the Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup, the army said in a statement.

"The rebels are on the run and we are getting full cooperation from Myanmar", which is preventing insurgents from sneaking across the border, the statement said. There was no immediate comment available from any of the rebel groups.

The army also said it had seized a large cache of weapons including 68 rifles, grenades and mortars in one weekend rebel camp raid.

Despite the haul, it expressed concern that the rebels had many sophisticated weapons and explosives including anti-aircraft guns, anti-tank rocket launchers and mortar bombs.

"The total cadre strength of militants in Manipur is estimated to be several thousand and they possess (the) latest weapons," the army said.

Rebels say they are trying to protect their ethnic identity and accuse New Delhi of plundering resources from the region, which is rich in minerals, tea, timber, and oil.

Last year, India got support from Myanmar in its efforts to crack down on the rebels when Yangon agreed to cooperate in fighting terrorism.

India's remote northeast is a cauldron of insurgent outfits fighting or causes ranging from autonomy to independence. Thousands have lost their lives to rebel-related violence since India's independence in 1947.