People's Liberation Army of Manipur
The People's Liberation Army of Manipur, often shortened to just People's Liberation Army (PLA) was founded by N. Bisheshwar Singh on 25 September 1978, is a separatist armed revolutionary group fighting for a separate independent socialist state of Manipur, a state in northeastern India. Though it claims to fight for the entire state, the Nagas, Kukis and the tribals in the state are virtually not part of the group. The cadres are drawn from the Meitei people and the Pangal people.
People's Liberation Army of Manipur | |
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Participant in Insurgency in Northeast India | |
Flag of the People's Liberation Army of Manipur | |
Active | 25 September 1978 – Present |
Ideology | Maoism |
Headquarters | Manipur |
Area of operations | Northeast India |
Opponent(s) |
Since its founding, it has been waging a guerrilla based warfare 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.
The organisation has an estimated strength of some 3800 as of 2008.
PLA is also a member of the Manipur Peoples Liberation Front, an umbrella organisation of three separatist organisation of Manipur namely UNLF and PREPAK. On 29 July 2020 three Assam Rifles jawans were killed and six injured in an ambush in Manipur's Chandel district near the Indo-Myanmar border.
Flag
Their flag is red with the emblem on the centre.
See also
- Communist Party of India (Maoist)
- Maoist Communist Party of Manipur
- National Democratic Front of Bodoland
- People's Liberation Guerrilla Army (India)
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.