People's Liberation Army of Manipur
The People's Liberation Army of Manipur, often shortened to just People's Liberation Army (PLA-MP or PLAM), is a separatist group fighting for a separate independent socialist state of Manipur, a state in northeastern India.
| People's Liberation Army of Manipur | |
|---|---|
 Flag of the People's Liberation Army of Manipur | |
| Dates of operation | 25 September 1978 – Present |
| Motives | Establish an independent state of Manipur |
| Headquarters | Manipur |
| Active regions | Northeast India |
| Ideology | Communism Mao Zedong Thought Separatism |
| Opponents |  India (PLA is designated as a terrorist organisation by the Government of India[1]) |
| Battles and wars | Insurgency in Northeast India Naxalite-Maoist insurgency |
History
The group founded by N. Bisheshwar Singh on 25 September 1978. Since its founding, it has been waging guerrilla warfare as part of the Insurgency in Manipur against the Indian Armed Forces, and has targeted the Indian Army, Indian Paramilitary Forces and the State Police Force. However, during the late nineties, it declared a unilateral decision not to target the Manipur Police.
The death of some top leaders in combat (like President Thoudam Kunjabehari in 1982), and the arrest of others (like N. Bisheshwar, arrested in 1981) decreased its military activity in the eighties. In 1989, a political wing called the Revolutionary People's Front (RPF) was formed.[2] The RPF formed a government in exile in Bangladesh, led by Irengbam Chaoren, and began a restructuring of the organisation. The Organisation become very active. Its operation was divided into four sections: Sadar Valley West Hill areas of Manipur, Sadar Hill areas in the east Valley, Hill areas of Manipur and Imphal valley, each with a commander, and other ranks.
Organisation
The PLA has an estimated strength of some 3 800 as of 2008.
PLA-MP is also a member of the Manipur Peoples Liberation Front, an umbrella organization of several Manipur separatist groups; namely, the UNLF and PREPAK. On 29 July 2020, three soldiers in the Assam Rifles were killed and six injured in an ambush in Manipur's Chandel district near the Indo-Myanmar border.
In 2019, a confession by a PLAM member suggested that PLAM was in touch with People's Liberation Army, China. Sixteen platoons of PLAM returned to Manipur after receiving their training in China.[3]
Through the 2023 Manipur violence, the insurgent groups PLAM as well as Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL) witnessed a surge in recruitment of new and previously surrendered militants.[4]
A report published by the Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Liberation suggested that groups such as Arambai Tenggol and Meitei Leepun are "either patronised or are fronts for Meitei valley-based insurgent groups (VBIGs) like the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and United National Liberation Front (UNLF)".[5]
See also
References
- "Banned Terrorist Organisations". National Investigation Agency (NIA). Archived from the original on 10 January 2016.
- "People's Liberation Army: Incidents and Statements involving People's Liberation Army: 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2000-2012". South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP). Archived from the original on 21 January 2018.
- "How Manipur conflict fits into broader game plan of China". Firstpost. 13 September 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
- Saikia, Arunabh (2 September 2023). "The return of Meitei insurgents marks a new turn in Manipur conflict". Scroll.in. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
- Manufacturing Ethnic Segregation and Conflict: A Report on the Violence in Manipur (PDF). Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation. 2023. p. 74.