Militants on the run, losing support, says Air Marshal

Militancy is on the wane in the northeast and except for Manipur, there are signs that insurgent elements are on their last legs, said outgoing Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Eastern Air Command Air Marshal P K Barbora on Sunday.

The Air Marshal, who will take over as the AOC-in-C of the Western Command on January 1, told reporters here that “people now understand that insurgency will ruin them, and they are rising against these elements. It’s a good sign.” He referred to the recent “truce” between the two NSCN factions and said it was a harbinger to the much-awaited peace in the region.

“The ULFA is now divided into two factions. While one is playing into the hands of the ISI and other fundamentalist outfits, the other—operating in Upper Assam—has nexus with the NSCN,” he said. The outfit is losing its support base among the Assamese, he said.

Air Marshal Barbora said one of the major achievements during his tenure was the support given to the civilian population of the region by the IAF.