Security Threats to North-East India: The Socio-Ethnic Tensions

The North-East Region is a crucible where Aryan, Dravidian and Mongoloid races are intermixed. This region is about 2,65,000 sq. km. in area with a population of forty million. It is enveloped by Bhutan, Nepal and China in the north and north-east, and in the south by Bangladesh and Myanmar. It is connected to the rest of India by the sole 20 km wide Siliguri corridor through which all lifelines to north-east pass. This region is therefore very sensitive from the point of view of national security and national integrity. The remoteness of this region and its ethnic mix is further complicated by the influx of refugees and illegal Bangladeshi Muslims in large numbers. It has created socio-ethnic tensions, identity crisis and dilution of political power to indigenous people. These factors with the additive of lower economic growth and development have resulted in serious discontentment, insurgency and demands for secession. Some of the neighbouring states have aggravated this problem that has now been raging for four decades or so. This book traces the genesis of the problem that each state of the north east is going through and how they impact on national security. Certain options have been suggested to bring peace and prosperity to the region.1