Monalisa: Giving army ideas

Guwahati, Oct. 19: The method employed by the army to design the escape of an Ulfa peacenik’s wife from the outfit’s camp in Myanmar last week may be used again to help bring other willing cadres overground.

The outfit is allegedly holding a number of its members, who had made known their desire to return to the mainstream, captive in NSCN (Khaplang)’s camp.

Sources in the government said after discussions on the Monalisa escape, the army has agreed to try similar operations to help other Ulfa rebels return. “We are looking at it (Monalisa rescue) as a dry run for similar operations in the future and the army has assured us that there is little to lose in making such attempts again,” an official said.

Though the government had decided to offer safe passage to the rebels, many may not have been able to accept it since they were being held hostage in Myanmar, the official said.

“The army carried out the Monalisa escape with great skill and dexterity and we are sure such attempts could be successful again,” he said.

Dispur has been trying persuade cadres of the B company of Ulfa’s 28 battalion, who did not come overground along with the A and C companies.

A large number of B company cadres is said to be languishing in camps across the border, where they had fled just before the A and C companies declared the ceasefire in June. Most of these B Company cadres are said to be willing to return.

An army officer, who was closely associated with the planning and execution of the operation to restore Monalisa to her husband, said a network of local people was in place on the other side of the border to help out if needed again.

“It was this network which guided Monalisa through the hostile terrain to ensure her safe arrival at Pangsu Pass,” he said.

“In fact these people know more routes out of the camps in Myanmar than the rebels staying in the camps. This would guarantee safety to the fleeing cadres,” he said.

According to sources in the intelligence apparatus in Upper Assam, the Ulfa leadership has ticked off the NSCN (K) for its failure to prevent Monalisa’s escape.

The Naga outfit was responsible for guarding the camp.

The army officer accepted that the modus operandi for any future rescue operations would have to be different from the one used for Monalisa. “Obviously, they (Ulfa) will be more watchful now and we have to plan accordingly. It is a cat and mouse game and whoever is smarter will win the day,” he said.