Thaindian News

New Delhi, March 9 (IANS) The government Wednesday said it had inputs suggesting that some rebel leaders in the northeastern states had visited China on many occasions to seek help from Chinese authorities for procurement of arms.

“There have been inputs suggesting visit of some leaders of various insurgent groups in the northeastern region to China on several occasions with the objective to establish rapport with Chinese authorities to facilitate procurement of arms and ammunition from arms agents in that country,” Minister of State for Home Mullappally Ramachandran told the Rajya Sabha.

The minister was replying to a question on whether there were reports that rebels in the northeast were offered surface to air missiles by agents working for Chinese intelligence agencies.

The minister in a written reply denied it.

He said the armoury being acquired from “China by the insurgent groups is being smuggled through Thailand and Sino-Myanmar border to the northeastern states”.

“The acquisition of arms is facilitated by the easy availability of weapons in Sino-Myanmar border towns like Tengchong, Ruili, and Yingjiang in Yunnan province.”

The minister said the government was doing everything to prevent the smuggling of arms from across the border.

The central government has stepped up vigilance and surveillance along the border “Further the security forces along the border have been suitably sensitised regarding arms smuggling by insurgents and regular patrolling along the border area is being carried out.

“The government has also voiced its concerns with the governments of Myanmar and Bangladesh over the reported smuggling of arms through their territories,” he said.