Two suspected NSCN-K-YA militants were killed in a gunfight with security forces in Arunachal Pradesh’s Longding district near the Myanmar border. The clash reflects ongoing insurgency threats in Northeast India despite peace talks, with multiple recent encounters highlighting the region’s fragile security and unfenced international borders.
The ongoing volatility along India’s northeastern border, two suspected militants were killed during a fierce gunfight with security forces in Arunachal Pradesh’s Longding district, bordering Myanmar, on Thursday. The incident, which occurred during a routine patrolling operation, underscores the fragile security landscape in the region, especially near the porous India-Myanmar border.
A Defence spokesperson confirmed that the deceased militants were suspected members of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN-K-YA) faction, a rebel outfit that has been active in cross-border insurgency despite efforts at peace negotiations with several Naga groups, including the influential NSCN (IM).
According to the official statement, the encounter took place when the patrolling unit of security forces came under heavy fire from insurgents believed to be operating from across the Myanmar border. In a swift and coordinated response, the security personnel retaliated effectively, forcing the militants to retreat across the International Border. The armed cadres fled towards Myanmar, a known safe haven for several insurgent groups due to the unfenced and densely forested terrain.
The encounter is the latest in a series of armed clashes that point to an increasing pattern of insurgent activity along India’s northeastern frontier. Just weeks earlier, on April 27, three militants affiliated with the same NSCN-K-YA faction were neutralised in Longding district during another gun battle. This marked a concerning frequency of attacks and encounters in the same strategic region.
The NSCN-K-YA, which has not signed a ceasefire agreement with the Indian government, has continued to engage in extortion, ambushes, and cross-border strikes. It had previously served a Rs 20 lakh extortion notice to Oil India Limited (OIL), targeting its operations in the dense Manabhum Reserve Forest spread across Changlang and Namsai districts. The notice, signed by the group’s self-styled ‘Major’ Tha Aung, was a blatant reminder of the group’s attempts to fund its activities through coercion and intimidation.
Meanwhile, the Indian security establishment has been stepping up its counter-insurgency operations in coordination with local police forces. On May 14, ten insurgents were gunned down by the Assam Rifles in Manipur’s Chandel district, which also shares an unfenced border with Myanmar. The operation resulted in the seizure of a significant cache of arms, including seven AK-47 rifles, an M4 rifle, a rocket-propelled grenade launcher, and various warlike stores.
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Similarly, in Assam’s Dima Hasao district, three more NSCN militants were killed during an encounter on April 29. Although the specific faction was not identified, the operation again reflected the widespread presence and network of Naga insurgent groups across the region.
India’s northeastern states – Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland, and Mizoram – together share a 1,643-km-long unfenced border with Myanmar. The difficult terrain, lack of fencing, and ethnic linkages across the border have allowed militant groups to operate freely, often escaping into Myanmar after launching attacks on Indian soil.
These factors have made security management in the region a significant challenge for Indian defence and paramilitary forces. Despite ongoing peace efforts with several Naga factions, groups like the NSCN-K-YA continue to exploit the geography and political vacuum along the border areas.
The recent encounter in Longding district is a stark reminder of the persistent threat posed by insurgent groups along India’s northeastern border. While security forces have intensified counter-insurgency efforts, the need for greater border management, international cooperation with Myanmar, and sustained peace talks with all factions remains paramount to achieving long-term stability in the region.
