6,770 militants operating in Manipur alone

DIMAPUR, June 18 ? At least 6,770 militants belonging to various militant outfits operate in the north-eastern State of Manipur alone including the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN-IM) which is presently engaged in talks to bring a permanent solution to the vexed Naga political problem.

Sources also revealed that some of these outfits are in the possession of state-of-the-art communication systems and are equipped with sophisticated automatic weapons. According to an estimated figure, these militants covering the length and breadth of Manipur including both the hills and valley areas, are using approximately 3,750 weapons of various types.

The main routes for smuggling in the weapons are through the porous borders of the Indo-Myanmar and Indo-Bangladesh. Out of the figure of 6,770 militants, People?s Liberation Army (PLA) crosses 2,000 mark, while NSCN-IM and UNLF both has 1,005 cadres each. But in comparison, NSCN-IM has the highest number of weapons, which stands at a figure of 1200 while the estimate says UNLF has more weapons (800) than PLA (700) although the later has a bigger strength than the former.

A analysis of the figure reveals that PREPAK has more weapons (350) than their strength (300). While KNA (O) and KNF (MC) has 300 (200) and 200 (110) cadres respectively in their fold. ZRA?s strength stands at ?350 (200) and PULF at ?300 (90). The list also includes other militant groups such as KYKL (O) 100 cadres (25 weapons), KYKL (T) 80 (20), KCP ?60 (30) and UKLF ?50 (25) the sources said.