An Assessment of Insurgencies in Assam, Manipur and Nagaland in 2009

The North East of India has been plagued by insurgencies since independence in 1947. Most violent amongst the armed movements had been the Naga National Council in the 1950s and today the NSCN (IM). States like Assam and Manipur also witnessed armed organized violence since the 1960s and the 1970s. At present, while violence levels have come down in Assam and Nagaland, Manipur continues to suffer from high levels of violence orchestrated by multiple insurgent groups inhabiting the state. This Issue Brief offers an assessment of insurgencies in Assam, Manipur and Nagaland in 2009. The author argues that Assam could well see the end of the 30-year old ULFA insurgency due to the arrest of its leaders in December 2009. Nagaland's path to peace also appeared more hopeful in 2009 with a signed 'reconciliation' between rival armed groups mostly propelled by strong civil society movements for peace. Manipur, however, continued to be plagued by insurgencies in 2009, although it can be argued that peace in Assam and Nagaland could have a 'domino-effect' for peace in this conflict ridden state.

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