US embassy cable - 05DHAKA2490

C O N F I D E N T I A L DHAKA 002490 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/01/2010 
TAGS: PTER, PHUM, SNAR, PREL, IN, BG 
SUBJECT: REPORTED BDR/RAB CLASH WITH INDIAN INSURGENTS 
 
 
Classified By: P/E Counselor D.C. McCullough, reason para 1.4 d. 
 
 
 1. (SBU) On May 27, Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) and Rapid Action 
Battalion (RAB) personnel killed six Indian insurgents in a 
gunfight in Kamalganj, five kilometers from the border with 
Tripura state, according to local press reports.  Bangladeshi 
security forces also reportedly launched a drive in the 
border areas of Jhenaigati in Sherpur district to root out 
Indian rebel hideouts on Bangladeshi territory.  BDG 
officials, however, were quoted as saying the crackdown was 
on gunrunners.  An unnamed BDR source speculated there might 
be links between the insurgents and recent grenade attacks in 
Bangladesh, but denied insurgents have any permanent base in 
Bangladesh. 
 
2. (C) A respected Bangladeshi journalist told us that a 
Directorate General Forces Intelligence (DGFI) official 
informed him that the encounter followed a GOI ultimatum to 
the BDG to act by May 31 against Indian insurgents using 
Bangladeshi territory and that DGFI warned some insurgent 
groups beforehand of the action.  A human rights activist 
with periodic contact with ULFA activists told us that one of 
the latter denied to him that the dead insurgents belonged to 
ULFA but were from another small group.  RAB, the activist 
reportedly said, seized 10 million taka (about USD 159,00) 
from the insurgents' hideout.  (Note: He was unclear whether 
the recovered currency was taka or something else).  The 
activist blamed Home Minister of State Babar personally for 
orchestrating the attack, and indicated that if BDG security 
forces continue their offensive, insurgents might be forced 
to retaliate against Bangladeshi targets. 
 
3. (C) We are attempting to verify through our own sources 
the reported Bangladeshi offensive against Indian insurgents. 
 Queried on May 31, the Indian High Commission shared no 
substantive information. 
 
4. (C) Comment: This is the first time in recent memory that 
the BDG has acted against or indirectly acknowledged the 
presence of Indian insurgents using Bangladeshi territory. 
It is trying to walk a fine line by apparently backgrounding 
the press that there was a concerted assault on Indian 
insurgents while publicly officials maintain the encounter 
was against "miscreants" and "gunrunners."  It is unclear why 
the BDG would have changed tack and potentially set a 
precedent for attacking insurgents, though some speculate the 
BDG wants to bolster Indo-Bangladeshi atmospherics before the 
Foreign Secretary talks begin June 20. 
CHAMMAS