Members of the NSCN-K militant group triggered an IED explosion on Thursday evening in Nagaland's border region with Myanmar, injuring one Assam Rifles jawan who was part of a patrol. While the Indian Army said only one jawan was severely injured, the NSCN-K said the casualties were more.
"It could be more, though the actual casualty figure is yet to be ascertained," a NSCN-K commander told THE WEEK.
Colonel C. Konwer, spokesman of the Indian Army in Kohima, told THE WEEK, "The attack took place at Khiprey district in Nagaland near the Myanmar border. The Assam Rifles jawans were patrolling and an IED blast was caused by the NSCN-K rebels."
"One jawan is injured and he is recovering at our hospital," Konwer said.
However, the NSCN-K statement gave a different account of the incident, claiming the blast took place at Phek district. The Army said both Khiprey and Phek are located in close proximity.
Konwer said an investigation has been ordered over the attack. It happened a day after the Indian Army carried out a major offensive against NSCN-K bases inside jungle regions of Myanmar.
The Army said it would increase offensive operations against NSCN-K in the next few days after the attack on the Assam Rifles patrol. The Army battalions have been asked to launch an onslaught against the NSCN-K, which is launching attacks on the Indian military in the name of WSEA (West South East Asia) commanders.
Konwer revealed operations would be stepped up.
"It's natural that after this we would not keep silent. Yes, the operations would stepped up against the insurgent groups threatening us and people," Konwer said.
In 2015, THE WEEK travelled to Phek district and from there to Pankhouri forest village, where Indian territory ends and Myanmar begins. THE WEEK met a band of NSCN-K soldiers, most of them being children aged about 11 to 15. They were trained in a camp and were given initial guns training.
The Assam Rifles, which looks after the border with Myanmar, did not have any camp within 20km from that area as it was dense forest.
After the revelations in THE WEEK of the existence of many such camps of NSCN-K, the Indian Army, which commands the Assam Rifles, asked battalions to move two companies inside the forest. As a result of this order, two companies have been set up near the Shilloi Lake, 10km away from Pankhouri border.