Nepal new haven for militants?

Rajkumar Meghen, chairman of the banned United National Liberation Front (UNLF) of Manipur, also known as Sana Yaima, has yet another name - a Nepali one.

Updated on: Dec 3, 2010, 01:17:45 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

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Rajkumar Meghen, chairman of the banned United National Liberation Front (UNLF) of Manipur, also known as Sana Yaima, has yet another name - a Nepali one.

If police in Bihar's Motihari are to be believed, one of Northeast India's most wanted militant, arrested in Bihar's East Champaran district Tuesday, also called himself Raju Shreshtha. The details of his arrest are still sketchy but the use of a Nepali name and Meghen's alleged attempt to cross over to the neighbouring country seems to be part of pattern among ultras of north east India.

Faced with an 'unfriendly' government in Bangladesh, leaders of banned outfits from Northeast could be looking at Nepal as their next safe haven. An open border and lax authorities could be reasons for the move.

In October this year, Anthony Shing, of Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland (Issac-Muivah) was arrested in Kathmandu while Niranjan Hojai, 'commander-in-chief' of the

Dima Halam Daogah (Jewel) of Assam, was also arrested in July.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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