People's Liberation Army of Manipur

The People's Liberation Army of Manipur (PLA-MP or PLAM), often shortened to the People's Liberation Army, is a militant group fighting for the creation of an independent and socialist Manipur, a state in northeastern India.

People's Liberation Army of Manipur
Dates of operation25 September 1978 – Present
MotivesEstablish an independent state of Manipur
HeadquartersManipur
Active regionsNortheast India
IdeologyCommunism
Mao Zedong Thought
Separatism
Opponents India (PLA is designated as a terrorist organisation by the Government of India[1])
Battles and warsInsurgency 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 Freedomfighter groups; namely, the UNLF and PREPAK. On 29 July 2020, three Indian 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 separatist PLAM as well as Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL) witnessed a surge in recruitment of new and previously surrendered soldiers.[4]

See also

References
  1. "Banned Terrorist Organisations". National Investigation Agency (NIA). Archived from the original on 10 January 2016.
  2. "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.
  3. "How Manipur conflict fits into broader game plan of China". Firstpost. 13 September 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  4. Saikia, Arunabh (2 September 2023). "The return of Meitei insurgents marks a new turn in Manipur conflict". Scroll.in. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
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