Militancy in the North Eastern States

North East India is the only expanse in South Asia which is geographically and strategically encircled by Nepal, China, Bhutan, Myanmar and Bangladesh. It is connected to the Indian hinterland by a narrow piece of land, namely the ‘Siliguri Corridor’ in West Bengal.

Key Facts

  • The region which consisted of only one state Assam and two Union territories Tripura and Manipur in the 1950s now comprises seven states known as “The Seven Sisters”. The Seven Sisters unfortunately do not have the best of relations due to mutually conflicting interests.
  • The NE states account for 7.9% of the nation’s geographical area but only 3.8% of the national population. Close to 70% of this population resides in its largest state, Assam and the Brahmaputra Valley while the rest is in the other six states.
  • This region has over 160 scheduled tribes and over 400 other tribal/sub-tribal communities and groups with predominantly a rural economy.

Strategic Importance of North East

North East India, sharing boundaries with five countries, some of them not friendly with India, has tremendous strategic significance for the nation.This coupled with prevailing insurgency, terrorism as well as ethnic conflicts in some areas of the region as well as being the fulcrum for India’s “Look East” Policy (or “Act East” Policy as enunciated by Prime Minister Modi) deserves special attention from the Centre as well as from civil society.

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