North East has been stung by terror. Statistics reveals that in the region alone, at least 378 persons -- which include civilians and security personnel -- died in 2008 due to terror-related incidents. Out of this, Assam alone saw 199 deaths.
Statistics available with the South Asian Terrorism Portal also indicates that in 2008, 515 terrorists were killed in the North Eastern states. While Assam records the highest number of civilian casualty, Manipur comes second with 116 deaths while Nagaland with 38 and Tripura with 5 are in third and fourth place.
When compared to the 2007 statistics, 2008 has been a shade better for the North East. In 2007, 518 civilians and security personnel lost their lives. The number of terrorists killed during this year was 501 which is 11 less compared to 2008.
IB had warned about terror attacks
Intelligence Bureau officials warned several times in the past that the North Eastern states was becoming a hot-bed for terror. While insurgents from Bangladesh were given the specific task of taking control over the North Eastern states of late there is a relatively new trend that has been emerging. Bangladesh and Pakistan-based outfits have realized that it would be best to strike in North East with the help of local groups.
Studies and statistics would reveal that there are a large number of terror outfits within the North Eastern states. Groups such as ULFA continue to wage a war against the state but have also started to tie up with Bangladesh based outfits such as HuJI in order to further operations.
Local modules being floated
The IB says that outfits such as the HuJI cannot rely entirely upon these outfits for all terror strikes since there is a difference in their ideology. Hence since the last few years, the foreign outfits have started to float local modules on their own with the help of illegal immigrants which according to the Border Security Force is nearly 12 lakh in number, India wide.
Statistics shows that the number of terror outfits is growing each day in the North East.
In North East which include Assam, Tripura, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland there are 113 terror outfits which are operating. These are classified as proscribed and insurgent terror groups.
Manipur has the most insurgent groups
Manipur leads the pack with 47 outfits while Assam is second with 37. While Tripura has 25, Meghalaya and Nagaland have four each. Mizoram with 2 has the least number of terror groups. While some of these groups are involved in a fight for a local cause, there are a large number of these groups which have been set up by foreign outfits.
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