Fighting for Myanmar army may have emboldened PLA
The Hindu
There are about 300 members of the Manipur-based extremist group and other VBIGs across the India-Myanmar border, says intelligence report
Fighting the Myanmar army’s war against pro-democracy resistance groups may have emboldened the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), a Manipur-based extremist group, to ambush an Assam Rifles convoy killing seven, including a colonel, his wife and minor son, on November 13.
According to an intelligence report accessed by The Hindu, there are about 300 members of the PLA and other VBIGs — short for (Imphal) Valley-based insurgent groups — across the India-Myanmar border. These groups have lost at least 40 members in the internal war between the military junta and the People’s Democratic Front (PDF).
“The Myanmar army had been grudgingly supportive whenever India had asked for any help and they have time and again destroyed a few terrorist bases and camps in their territory, however mostly for optics rather than effect,” the report said. The situation took a new dimension after the military coup on February 1.