Kohima, July 6: The Khaplang faction of the NSCN is currently on a recruitment drive along the India-Myanmar border.

Sources said the outfit had recruited several Naga youths, but people living along the border said they were forcibly recruited by militants who came from Myanmar.

The militants are finding it quite easy to target people as there are no security forces posted along the border with Myanmar. Two border villages in Meluri subdivision in Phek distirct from where several youths were forcibly taken away by militants recently, are no exception.

The NSCN (K) had picked up nine youths from Pokhuri, but released a student after intervention by villagers. While three youths escaped, the rest are still in the clutches of militants. "Negotiations are on for their release," a source said.

Yesterday, mothers from Pokhuri village held a protest rally and walked nearly 10km to the International Trade Centre at Avangkhu village on the India-Myanmar border, demanding the unconditional release of the youths.

A source in the Naga Mothers' Association said women from Pokhuri are ready to march even to the NSCN (K) camps in Myanmar for the release of their sons.

Meluri subdivision to which both these villages belong, has been a sanctuary for Naga militants because of its topography as it is difficult for the security forces to operate in the terrain.

Sources said an NSCN (K) commander from the Meluri area was forcibly carrying out recruitment and creating a fear psychosis among villagers living along the border.

The inspector-general of the Assam Rifles (North), Maj. Gen. S.M. Jaswal, said top leaders of the NSCN (K) were based at Layshi town in Myanmar, not far from the border.

Villagers from the Indian side go to Layshi on foot to buy essential commodities. Sources said the state government had been informed about the activities of the NSCN (K) in the area. Thin presence of security forces along the border has made to and fro movements easy for the militants.

There are only eight Assam Rifles outposts on the Nagaland side of the border.

Officials of the security forces here said efforts were being made to tighten vigil along the India-Myanmar border which would affect movement of citizens of both countries.

The Nagaland government is also working on designated routes for movement of people. There was no proposal for total sealing of the border as Nagas live in both countries and there is an 18km belt inside the two countries for free movement of people.

Night curfew has been enforced along the border by the Nagaland government. Assam Rifles officials said supply routes of the NSCN (K) would also be choked but on the ground there is still thin presence of security forces.

A source in the security forces said now there are around 300 NSCN (K) cadres in Nagaland. The outfit abrogated ceasefire with the Centre on March 27. Sources said recently the NSCN (K) had bought huge consignment of sophisticated arms, including rocket launchers and bombs, from Ulfa and the outfits of Manipur. In another development, the Naga Mothers' Association has asked the Centre to extend ceasefire with the NSCN (K) and remove the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act from the Naga-inhabited areas.